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I live near the Manhasset-Lakeville fire district and they still blast their alarms. In 2013, is there any need for this when there are other and presumably better alternatives to alert volunteer firefighters?
Well, just maybe some fire fighters are outside or away from their homes and aren't near a scanner or a phone (and yes, not everyone is connected to their cell every minute of their lives).
I think it's more of a tradition at this point. I knew a 70 year old volunteer fireman who carried around his scanner at all times, so it isn't just for those who aren't tech-savvy.
A lot of communities are using theirs for other reasons today. I know that a bunch of towns in Schoharie County now have sirens warning residents of floods, ever since Irene. Ballston Spa in Saratoga County purchased tornado sirens after a nasty F3 in '98, and this year, the town of Rotterdam sounded their fire sirens to warn residents as a mile wide monster moved through the area.
But I do agree that they shouldn't really be used to call the volunteers in anymore, since there are so many more efficient alternatives at this point, and if the siren is sounded multiple times a day, people may ignore it if it's actually used to warn residents about something serious.
Oh I miss the sirens! I do have experience both as a dispatcher and a volunteer. My hometown used them all the time. I am sure tradition plays a major role, but it is still effective and reliable. No matter how many millions of dollars are spent on fancy radio systems there are still "dead spots" which reception can still be quite absent. Happens all time actually. Do you know what isn't subject to these dead spots? Really loud sirens!
As far as the concern of publc complacency, the reason the siren was activated can usually be told by number of cycles it goes through. My hometown would set it off for lunch which was one cycle. A call for the fire department would be 3 cycles. If it was warning for flood, tornado, etc. would be longer to catch the public's attention.
Live next door to one and honestly was thrown off when they had to repair it. You get used to it. Like pavlos dog, spelling< when I hear one cycle its noon, when i hear other cycles I am near my scanner listening in.
I live in Ballston Spa very near the firehouse, and my 1 1/2 year old and I have not gotten used to the ugly blasts that emanate from their alert system every evening at 6, and every time there's an alert to the firefighters, many times late at night. There obviously are quieter ways to alert firefighters, because most communities don't have these ancient blaring horns. There's no good reason for it - if you are a firefighter, you keep your phone or scanner on you at all times, that's all.
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I grew up with it and don't mind it, in our town the whistle would blow at 7pm and as little kids we knew that was time to head inside during the summer...
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I live in Montour Falls, and the siren in Watkins Glen can be heard from here.
The only thing I am not certain of is why they blow the sirens on a schedule rather than just during emergencies. Testing? Old time keeping tradition for the farmers?
My local fire station (Lakeshore) used to blow the siren every day at noon. I really miss it for some reason
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