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August 09, 2007
August 7, 2007
To the Editor:
I am writing with regards to the fire department siren issue being contemplated within the proposed master plan for the Village of Cornwall on Hudson.
On April 15, 2007, I, along with several members of the Storm King Fire Engine Company #2, attended the public hearing with regards to the proposed master plan. At this meeting the fire department members shared their view point with the committee. During the discussion of the fire siren topic the members of the company were told by the master plan committee that the topic was “no longer on the table”. When we asked for clarification of this statement as to whether or not the topic was removed from the proposed master plan or just from the discussion that day, we were told that it would be removed from the proposed master plan altogether. At this point we felt that our voices had been heard. Apparently this was not the case.
During the ensuing months the fire department had been investigating the purchase of a new siren which would allow better control of when the siren sounded, for how long and at lower decibels. The fire company heard the concerns of the master plan committee and was trying to be a good neighbor. However, it would seem that the fire company was again blindsided by the master plan committee’s new suggestion of installing 2 sirens for the village. This recommendation seems a little too much considering the overall size of the village. I say blindsided because that is how it feels. At no time during the whole master plan process was the fire company ever consulted with regards to the use of the fire siren. We are a Village of Cornwall on Hudson department, the same as the water, highway, and police departments. I would hope that they were at least consulted with regards to the master plan as it affects their respective departments. They are the experts in their fields as the fire department is and it would be a mistake not to involve the department heads for their input.
With regards to the purchase of a new siren, Chief Armitage has assured me that the village government was notified of the fire departments intention to purchase a new siren. If word did not filter down to the master plan committee that is not the fire departments fault. The fire department answers to the Mayor and the village board. They do not answer to the master plan committee. Maybe, if after the public hearing was held on April 15th, if the master plan committee still felt that the fire siren issue had to be addressed they should have reached out to the fire chief to further discuss his concerns and they would have known about the fire departments intentions.
Over the years the fire department has tried to be a good neighbor. We have discontinued use of the siren at night between 10pm and 6am. We have reduced the number of “cycles” that it blows, and we are about to purchase a new siren which would enable us to lower the decibels of the siren. Eliminating the siren as a whole is not an option as I see it.
This siren serves as a “back-up” to our existing paging system. It is true that firefighters do carry pagers. However, we are not “on call” only during certain times of the day as the volunteer ambulance corps is. We are on call 24 hours a day seven days a week.. Sometimes we forget our pagers because we are simply running to the store for a loaf of bread or a newspaper. Sometimes we don’t hear the pagers because we are mowing the grass (yes, you can hear the siren over the roar of a lawn mower engine, but not the pager). Sometimes the paging system flat out fails.
The siren also serves as notice to the general public entering and exiting the elementary school, church and business district that emergency vehicles will be entering the roadway soon. So as you can see there are instances that the siren is needed.
Just a couple of months ago we had a member at the fire house in the rear parking lot doing equipment maintenance and he did not have his pager. There was a medical call that we were dispatched to. The dispatcher failed to activate the siren. The member doing the equipment maintenance never knew that there was an emergency call. If the siren had sounded he certainly would have known that there was an emergency and maybe the person in need of medical attention would have been served a little quicker as he could have driven the rescue truck without having to wait for another driver to come from home. Was he somewhat at fault for forgetting his pager – sure. But it happens. Just as someone might forget to take their cell phone with them.
All that I am saying is there is a need for the fire siren and I resent the fact that the master plan committee never consulted with the fire department on this issue from the beginning. Perhaps the controversy would never have occurred if the master plan committee had notified the fire department of its intention to silence the fire siren. As Lee Murphy said “consultation would have been a very good thing”.
Sincerely,
Michael Trainor
Ex-Chief
Storm King Fire Engine Company #2
Comments:
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Back in the day when I belonged there, the siren was a most useful tool when I was outside cutting the lawn, washing the car, in the pool, etc - when I would not hear or wear my pager.
Aside from FD member notification, it makes people "AWARE" that there is FD activity and to keep clear. Kids and adults alike, know that people are getting to the firehouse and the trucks are rollin'.
Unlike some new comer opinions, notification by any means gets people there. I would rather have 3 people on the first truck than two.
In closing, I think it is a bad idea to totally get rid of the siren and like the 'nice neighbor' policy implemented.
And for the record, I live within blocks of the firehouse.
Regards,
Bob
posted by w2eny on 10/26/07 at 5:18 PM
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I agree with both Mike and Bob. Having had both my husband and brother (who is a past chief) a member of this fire company, I understand the importance of the siren. It certainly does make people "aware" that there is activity at the firehouse and gives all a "heads up" to watch out for the trucks coming out of the bays. Silencing the siren, in my opinion, would be a serious breach of not only notification to fire personnel, but to the public safety. I was born and raised in the Village of Cornwall on Hudson and as I've read in these pages how "quaint" this Village is - that siren in part of that quaintness also. Like it or not, it is a necessary tool. On a sentimental note, as a child growing up here, I always knew when it was 5pm and time to head home for dinner(as my children did also). I think people don't realize the value of Storm King Engine #2, until they need them, and thankfully they will be there. Why make their job of protecting the community harder? I totally agree that it's a bad idea to get rid of the siren.
Sincerely, Sharon
posted by whstle4me on 10/28/07 at 12:33 AM
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