GRAHAM Washington (ABC 4 News) Dispatch logs show it took 14 minutes before law enforcement arrived at the home of Josh Powell.
But it was too late.
Minutes earlier, Powell ignited a trail of gasoline inside the home creating an inferno. The fire killed his two sons and Powell as well.
Police are calling it a double murder suicide.
Already the Law Enforcement Support Agency based in Tacoma has launched an investigation over the manner in which its dispatcher handled the social workers call for help.
Elizabeth Griffin-Hall called 911 pleading for help to arrive before the house was set on fire.
In one sequence with the dispatcher Griffin-Hall is told that police are at more pressing matters and an officer would arrive once they are available.
Second later the house exploded.
"Could it have been handled better, sure,” says Sgt. Ed Troyer of the Pierce County sheriff’s office. “Did it delay the call, that's what being investigated."
But Troyer says while the dispatcher was talking with the social worker a seperate transmission went out to sheriff deputies. And he says that’s when the officer headed out.
“He got their quickly,” says Troyer.
How quick? According to LESA dispatch logs it took 8 minutes for the dispatcher to call the deputy.
And it was another 14 minutes for him to arrive.
Compare that to fire crews of the Graham Fire Department.
They were dispatched at 12:17 and arrived at 12:22 for a response time of 5 minutes.
But some believe no matter when anyone arrived, Josh Powell was determined to blow up the house. And they believe it could have been catastrophic if law enforcement or fire crews were near the home any earlier.
Chuck Cox, Susan Powell’s father and grandfather to Charlie and Braden casts no blame on the response time.
"It isn't surprising to me it would take that long,” he says. “I'm not shocked. It's what it took."
