Pay phone removed near Big Ice Caves, prompting safety concerns

The only pay phone on the Mountain Loop Highway near the popular Ice Caves is gone.

A KIRO 7 News crew discovered that Frontier Communications already removed the phone at the Verlot Ranger Station on Monday.

There isn't any cell phone service in the area and the phone at the Verlot Ranger station is used to call 911 when the Big Four Ice Caves collapse.

In July 2015 one woman was killed and five more were injured in a collapse. In July 2010 Grace Tam, 11, was standing outside the ice caves when a large piece of ice, the size of truck, gave way and killed her.

"I have a pit in amy stomach when I think about it," said Sgt. Christopher Ferreira who is the Granite Falls Police Chief. "To have people up there with no way to communicate if something happens, it is a scary thought."

The phone is owned by Frontier Communications. The company says it planned to remove the phone because of usage. But first responders say when it is used, it is to call 911. KIRO-7 checked with SNOPAC and found since 2015 the Verlot pay phone was used to call 911 25 times.

Cell phone service doesn't return until Granite Falls.

"You're asking folks to drive down 40 minutes, just to make a phone call," said Sgt. Ferreira. He said that time could make the difference whether or not someone survives.

KIRO 7 contacted Frontier Communications on Monday, the company didn't know the phone was already gone.

"Equipment may have been removed prematurely but it will be re-installed. We intend to keep the Verlot phone in service until we have the opportunity to again fully discuss options with the U.S. Forest Service and local officials and assist them to implement an affordable solution," said Javier Mendoza, Frontier Communications.

Cox Media Group