AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Questions about the reliability of the Augusta Fire Department’s emergency response have caught the attention of Augusta Commission member Catherine Smith McKnight.

News 12′s I-TEAM uncovered 139 cases over the past two years when dispatch calls to Augusta’s fire stations failed to go through. That led to delays in response times.

Among those delays and dispatch errors was a deadly house fire – just across the street from a fire station. Two people were found just steps from the home’s front door.

The I-TEAM took our findings to McKnight, who currently chairs Augusta Richmond County’s public safety committee.

McKnight said she was unaware of any problems and the issue was never brought up in the committee or in commission.

However, McKnight says she now wants answers and says this safety concern is a priority. She says she will bring it up at the next Augusta Commission public safety committee and commission meetings.

McKnight told News 12 she is shocked that our I-TEAM investigation is the first time this safety issue has been brought to her attention and questions why dispatch errors haven’t been brought up earlier.

McKnight went on to say no family should have to go through having to worry about this or suffer the loss of a family member.

News 12 has repeatedly requested an interview with Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden, who has denied or not responded to our invitation to sit down and answer questions about what his department has done to alert commissioners or to find the root of the dispatch errors.

McKnight’s official statement:

As the Public Safety Committee Chairman, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Teresa Ingram and Rex Williams who both lost their lives in a house fire. Just finding out about this tragedy that took place last year on October 14, 2023, has me asking questions as to why a fire station that sits 200 yards across the street from this house where the fire broke out and yet not one crew member saw it happen is baffling. As a sitting Commissioner, I want answers from our Dispatch Department Director and Fire Chief about the malfunction of the Purvis system and dispatching problems so that moving forward we can prevent something like this from happening again. Public Safety is top priority as a Commissioner of this county and the lives of our citizens. It is imperative that we have the best equipment and that it constantly be monitored and maintained to ensure safety for all.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A ribbon cutting was held on Friday for the new south Augusta’s Farmers Market on Windsor Spring Road.

Leaders say the grand opening represents a big milestone as the farmers market celebrates their third year of growth and community engagement.

The farmers market provides access to fresh organic produce and local homemade goods.

It’s also connecting the local community with the same farmers that grew the produce, like Kahn Hassan, in hopes of growing the industry he says needs more hands and help

“Currently what we are struggling with in the farming community right now is young farmers. We have a lot of older farmers that are passing off the knowledge to the younger ones. But as far as creating interest in farming, we want to be able to bring as many facets to it as we can,” said Hassan.

You can connect with farmers like Hassan on the third Friday of every month in south August at 6 p.m.

They will even have some information on programs where you can sign up and be part of if you are interested in farming.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The I-TEAM is working to get answers for you as the investigation into Augusta’s 911 Center and emergency response throughout Richmond County continues.

For months the I-TEAM has gathered emails, documents and reports about the Augusta Fire Department and how it responds to emergency calls.

With life-saving services, every second counts. That was the case when an entire house went up in flames on Old Louisville Road which is directly across the street from Augusta Fire Station 16.

Our I-TEAM’s report “Silent Alarm” uncovered how Teresa Ingram and Rex Williams died in that deadly house fire, despite the fire department being housed right across the street.

“How much closer can you get to a fire station? If we had a catastrophic incident, rock throwing distance to the fire department, and they can’t even get here,” said Tommy Williams.

The I-TEAM uncovered nearly 150 cases of dispatching errors when you, the people of Richmond County, called 911 for help. Firefighters have been delayed responding to calls or even missing calls altogether since late 2021.

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That included anything from medical calls, structure fires and vehicle accidents.

“Why would they let it continue all knowing that it’s not working right?” said Farrah Hembree.

As loud as the family’s calls for answers are, it’s been nothing but radio silence from the Augusta Fire Department and city leaders. But, the I-TEAM went looking for answers.

We found no response from any of your elected officials or from the head person charged with running the Augusta Fire Department. Before our report aired on April 29, we reached out to Commissioner Catherine Smith-McKnight on April 23.

She is the chair of the Augusta Public Safety Committee. We called Smith-McKnight, who said she was unaware of what Purvis was and didn’t know about the issue at all.

The day after our report ran, on April 30, we went to the public safety committee meeting to get answers from your elected officials. Smith-McKnight said she had not seen our report.

“I did not because I had my fundraiser and then I went out to dinner, so I didn’t see it. I need to brush up on it. I’ll brush up on it and I’ll go in there real quick and do that,” said Smith-McKnight.

Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden also gave us no comment at the meeting.

On May 1, we asked Smith-McKnight for a sit-down interview regarding the dispatching system – and including a link to our report. There was no response.

On May 3, we reached out to Smith-McKnight again for comment.

She told us in a text message, “At this time, I have no comment about the dispatch system until I see paper evidence. I will gladly do an interview once I get the facts and read up on this.”

“I did not receive your report. Whatever the case is, I wasn’t Public Safety chair two years ago. I am just hearing about this,” said Smith-McKnight.

Commissioner McKnight goes on to say, “I am in the middle of re-election so it’s a busy time. Again, once I receive an email and read everything then I can elaborate on this.”

We followed up with her again on May 6, and have not heard back.

We reached out to an Augusta Fire Department spokesperson about our report, asking for a sit-down interview with Chief Burden. We have not heard back.

The I-TEAM tracked down agendas and minutes from public safety committee and commission meetings and found this dispatching issue has not been discussed since 2019.

That’s when the contract agreement was voted on and approved.

That’s despite the fire department telling us in a statement they’re aware of the issue and are investigating it. These issues have been ongoing since 2021 when the system went online.

There’s a lack of urgency in responding to this issue – where every second matters. It could mean the difference in when or if first responders show up for your emergency.

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