S.F. Firefighters’ Calls to Dial-a-Porn, Other ‘976’ Phone Numbers Reported
San Francisco firefighters placed nearly 450 calls to dial-a-porn, horoscope, sports information and other toll numbers from city firehouses during an eight month period, a newspaper report said.
Most of the 444 calls cost the taxpayers $2 each and violated city rules against personal use of the city’s business phones, the San Francisco Examiner said Monday.
The other so-called 976 calls were to “chat lines,” state lottery lines and other message services, the paper said.
Ironically, the Fire Department’s telephone budget recently was exhausted and other budgets were tapped to replenish it, the paper said.
Deputy Mayor Hadley Roth, advised of the calls, said the amount was “not staggering,” but that the city “simply has to be more diligent” in reviewing phone bills.
Acting Fire Chief Michael Farrell went a step further. He ordered equipment modifications that would block future 976 calls from firehouse phones.
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