On March 26, a controlled wildfire broke loose of it’s boundaries and caused damage to several homes, killing three people. The fire was started by the Colorado Forest Service, but quickly left the contained area.

Several concerned residents started calling 9-1-1 in order to learn if they were in danger. The dispatchers relayed the most recent information they had to the individuals on the other end of the line. Three people lost their lives because of that information. They were told that their homes were not in the path of the wildfire, and that they would be safe at home.

Moments later, their houses were engulfed in flames. The reverse 911 system that informs people in harm’s way malfunctioned that day, and did not notify every person on the list. Only 88 percent of the individuals were told of the dangers. This functioning issue with the system caused those residents to lose their lives. The families of the deceased could consider filing a wrongful death lawsuit in regards to the circumstances surrounding their passing.