The 911 system across Massachusetts went down Tuesday afternoon, prompting police and fire departments to urge people in need of emergency services to call directly through administrative phone lines.
Multiple local and state agencies shared messages about the outage in posts on social media, advising people to either directly call them or use other alternatives.
“The current 911 system is down statewide,” the Boston Police Department told the public in a post on X, adding that those who have an emergency and need assistance should directly call the department or pull their “nearest Fire Box.”
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security said in a statement around 2:30 p.m. that it was “aware of a disruption to the 911 system and is investigating the cause.”
The office said it remains unclear how many communities were affected.
The Massachusetts State Police, meanwhile, said in a statement that anyone in need of state police assistance should contact their regional dispatch center.
In a press conference originally scheduled to discuss preparations for a planned Celtics NBA championship victory parade, Boston officials urged people in need of help to get in contact with first responders by calling their official contact numbers.
“If you are experiencing an emergency, if you find your way to police, fire or EMS, we will make sure that you get to the right place,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
According to Boston EMS Chief of Emergency Medical Services James Hooley, other internal systems that allow city emergency departments to communicate with each other were not affected despite the 911 outage.
“As long as it gets in the system, we will be able to connect to the right service,” he said.
The 911 outage coincides with the summer heat wave that is currently hitting New England. By Tuesday, high temperatures are expected to exceed 90 degrees in many places in Massachusetts. After Tuesday, the hot weather is then expected to persist through the rest of the week, reaching as high as 97 degrees by Thursday, according to forecasts.
“This could be very temporary and we’re waiting to hear a little later about how long it will last,” Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said at the press conference. “But we thought it was important—particularly with the heat that we’re about to experience—to make sure that we give people the opportunity to know what’s going on in regards to the 911 system.”
Ms. Wu has declared a heat emergency in the city from Tuesday through Thursday, as well as the opening of more than a dozen cooling centers where people can take shelter from the heat wave.
“Heat waves are a risk to our community, so everyone should make sure to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity when possible, wear plenty of sunscreen, and check on your neighbors and loved ones,” she said in a statement.
