Sedgwick County doesn’t want 911 calls backlogged over July 4

Sedgwick County will open its non-emergency phone line Friday for the Fourth of July weekend.

The number, 316-290-1011, was created following an incident on July 4 five years ago when the 911 system was so overrun with fireworks complaints that calls about a fatal motorcycle accident couldn’t get through to emergency personnel.

Since that incident, the county opens the non-emergency line during historically high call times. It is used to clear the 911 lines from nuisance calls that could block emergency calls from reaching dispatch.

If someone calls 911 with a non-emergency, the dispatcher will transfer the call to the the non-emergency line.

Non-emergencies include situations that don’t pose a threat to life or property, such as party complaints or noise complaints.

The line will remain open from 6:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. nightly beginning Friday and ending Tuesday morning.

Calls to the non-emergency line outside those hours will be routed to 911.

This story was originally published June 30, 2016 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Sedgwick County doesn’t want 911 calls backlogged over July 4."