Residents complain about Mahopac siren

[pfdfirefighter01 1]

Residents complain about Mahopac siren

By Barbara Livingston Nackman

The Journal News • September 20, 2008

MAHOPAC - The outdoor siren at the new $5.7 million Mahopac firehouse at Croton Falls Road is attracting the kind of attention that firefighters may not want.

Some neighbors say the sound from the nearly 40-foot tower with six saucer-like speakers is too loud and disturbing. And the town says its location doesn't conform with approved plans.

to read more.... http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809200355

[BFD1054 1,552]

No surprise really. People have complained about fire whistles/sirens for years and years.

When i worked as a dispatcher for Somers Fire District, there were so many guidelines for when and when not to sound the siren because of the number of community complaints. To be honest, i rarely ever sounded it because id rather get the call out than worry if im supose to be sounding the siren or not lol. I had one incident where i sent out an alarm and a member keyed me up on the district nextel and asked why i hadnt sounded the whistle. I kindly advised him that he obviously knew there was a call, so i didnt see the big deal lol.

To be perfectly honest, i cant see the reason for fire whistles anymore. With newer technology such as pagers, radios, scanners and cell phone text messaging (I-Page), there is no need for the whistles. I mean, some old timers, such as my father still like having the siren. My father rather hear the siren, know theres a call and respond to the firehouse than carry a pager lol.

[markmets415 524]

"More and more are doing away with these (siren) systems precisely because of community complaints. Plus, most find that the call-force isn't necessarily close enough to the building to even hear it," said Larry Stewart, a fire service specialist with the National Fire Protection Association.

What's next???? Gotta love community support, WOW is all I can say.

Man I can remember growing up and the siren was used to let everyone know that school was cancelled. How times have changed.

[hudson144 150]

Where i grew up at 5pm the whistle blew and you better get you butt home for dinner,we usually were out riding bikes,playing football/baseball etc. I guess in some communities the sirens might drown out the volume on the video games!

[markmets415 524]

To be perfectly honest, i cant see the reason for fire whistles anymore. With newer technology such as pagers, radios, scanners and cell phone text messaging (I-Page), there is no need for the whistles.

Well if you lived up in the lovely area of Eastern Dutchess you would surely disagree. Our tones go off two different towers and if your lucky your pager goes off, Dutchess just went to simo-dispatch on low band it is has help with my pager because it is low band, hasn't helped the high-band newer pagers. They will also be going to highband simo soon so maybe this would help.

We reduced the amount of times the siren blows as well, from 4 to 2; not because of complaints but a way to reduce the electric bill. In the event we go past two calls then man only tones (same as ambulance) go out.

[steve shryock 0]

I feel they are still needed. When fighting a fire don't we stretch a 2nd line as back up? THe audible horn/alarm systems are just that, a back up to modern technology.

I can tell you that there have been times something has gone with the radio system and the only way to get the message out quickly there was a call was to sound the horn.

Now Hastings does have hours set for it's horn, something like 6am to 10 or 11pm. However if I hear the horn going in the overnight hours to get going asap because it's not good.

[Guest MVFD334]

I remember when i lived in the mahopac falls district when i was a kid and everyday at 12 noon and 6 pm. Because of those damn sirens, I had no excuse for when i got home late for dinner and homework. I know that in somers (least if your in shenorock) it goes off at 6pm and possibbly at noon. But times are different, you might have better technology but that technology dosent deal with the multiple dead areas in our district. Lotta folk to our south forget we have these things called "hills" and "valleys" that get no service period.

[jack10562 414]

Emergency sirens are just that, but this subject reminds me of the gripes people make when they move into a neighborhood near an airport and then turn around and complain about having to hear airplanes all the time.

sheesh.

[Guest]

Great article on the subject... http://wiccopeefireco.org/Fire%20Preventio...renarticle.html

[gamewell45 258]

No surprise really. People have complained about fire whistles/sirens for years and years.

When i worked as a dispatcher for Somers Fire District, there were so many guidelines for when and when not to sound the siren because of the number of community complaints. To be honest, i rarely ever sounded it because id rather get the call out than worry if im supose to be sounding the siren or not lol. I had one incident where i sent out an alarm and a member keyed me up on the district nextel and asked why i hadnt sounded the whistle. I kindly advised him that he obviously knew there was a call, so i didnt see the big deal lol.

To be perfectly honest, i cant see the reason for fire whistles anymore. With newer technology such as pagers, radios, scanners and cell phone text messaging (I-Page), there is no need for the whistles. I mean, some old timers, such as my father still like having the siren. My father rather hear the siren, know theres a call and respond to the firehouse than carry a pager lol.

I think most departments keep them as a redundancy incase the paging system goes down or the firefighter is outside without his/her pager.

[gamewell45 258]

Residents complain about Mahopac siren

By Barbara Livingston Nackman

The Journal News • September 20, 2008

to read more.... http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809200355

I'll bet if their house was on fire they would't mind the siren too much.

[Bnechis 3,961]

To be perfectly honest, i cant see the reason for fire whistles anymore. With newer technology such as pagers, radios, scanners and cell phone text messaging (I-Page), there is no need for the whistles.

Technology has been known to fail. I've had I-pages delayed for hours. Whats your back-up system? ISO gives credit for a back-up (just needs to be tested, not used every day for calls might reduce complaints). Also good for alerting the community. thats why the NRC requires IP to maintain them (not that knowing about a melt down will help you).

[JBE 328]

I remember when i lived in the mahopac falls district when i was a kid and everyday at 12 noon and 6 pm. Because of those damn sirens, I had no excuse for when i got home late for dinner and homework. I know that in somers (least if your in shenorock) it goes off at 6pm and possibbly at noon. But times are different, you might have better technology but that technology dosent deal with the multiple dead areas in our district. Lotta folk to our south forget we have these things called "hills" and "valleys" that get no service period.

It was 12 and 6 in Shenorock. I haven't heard a 6 o'clock whistle around Somers in years. Carmel still trips theirs at 5 if I remember correctly.

[markmets415 524]

Great article on the subject... http://wiccopeefireco.org/Fire%20Preventio...renarticle.html

great piece and response.

[TRUCK6018 50]

How else will we know if its lunch time?

Here in the lower reaches of the Town of Poughkeepsie we know it's lunch time by the daily noon time blasting from Trap Rock quarry.

[PVFD113 6]

In all honesty--we get dispatched off 2 towers--1 of which is in town. We still have some fairly large dead spots. There are spots that mobile radio's don't always receive the message. The siren is a good supplement to voice and alpha/text messaging. There are times when the ipage takes 30 minutes--or even a day to get through--depends on the coverage of your provider.

If you are out in the yard, you hear the siren and you know you have a call--head for the firehouse. Seems that the siren is the dated technology--but rarely fails.

Like it was said in an earlier post--you buy a house near an airport--YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR AIR TRAFFIC, You live near a fire station--you are going to hear sirens. Something to consider before you buy???

And as my parents live in Mahopac, I happen to like the new, energy efficient siren.

[DR104 141]

How else will we know if its lunch time?

And that school was closed b/c of a snow day!!!!! LOL They blew the horn for us when i was little on snow days.

[JM15 386]

In Somers we have changed our protocol for siren use. we used to do two rounds of the siren after two tones on an ems call and for rounds for pretty much any dispatch with the word fire in it. A few years ago we eliminated the two rounds and we only use the four for fires or possible fires in a structure. One set after initial dispatch then when the working fire is confirmed our dispatchers usually re-tone with another four rounds of the siren. We still do one round at noon.

One thing that I have noticed is that in Somers since our coverage area is 33 sq. miles in most of it you wont hear the siren anyway. Probabally due to the topography, but I live about a mile from Somers House in the center of town and I can't hear the siren inside my house maybe outside if you were listening for it.

[Jared1979 19]

thats typical of people in small towns they have nothing better to do but complain about the firehouse siren those things dont bother me at all I live near North White Plains and West Harrison and I hear their sirens all the time at least I know what is going on when they go off

[JBE 328]

In Somers we have changed our protocol for siren use. we used to do two rounds of the siren after two tones on an ems call and for rounds for pretty much any dispatch with the word fire in it. A few years ago we eliminated the two rounds and we only use the four for fires or possible fires in a structure. One set after initial dispatch then when the working fire is confirmed our dispatchers usually re-tone with another four rounds of the siren. We still do one round at noon.

One thing that I have noticed is that in Somers since our coverage area is 33 sq. miles in most of it you wont hear the siren anyway. Probabally due to the topography, but I live about a mile from Somers House in the center of town and I can't hear the siren inside my house maybe outside if you were listening for it.

thanx for the update. My grandparents had a summer house on Bolling Road for years. We used to get our ears blown off by the Shenorock whistle. We could also hear Granite Springs as well. I do remember once it was either being tested or repaired and they were blasting it all day, like every 5-10 minutes. I can hear Lincolndales from my mothers house on 202, not too sure if I can hear Somers House. I think if people hear whistles like that here in the city, they'd either flat out ignore it, or run for the basements.

Edited September 21, 2008 by JBE

[TRUCK6018 50]

I do remember once it was either being tested or repaired and they were blasting it all day, like every 5-10 minutes.

It's possible it was malfunctioning too. There were a lot of problems with the Shenorock siren. Between neighbors taking matter into their own hands with it and other "problems". Oh yeah, then after it was replaced in the early 2000's, it would wind up for minutes at a time on its own until someone killed the power to it.

[PC_420 28]

Mahopac Falls still sounds our siren at 6 p.m. everyday.

[Guest alsfirefighter]

First...just because someone disagrees or does not like a particular aspect of their local fire department does not mean they do not support what you do. Nothing gets me shaking my head more then that. Right up there with the "if it was their house on fire" like comments, because guess what it isn't their house on fire and 99.5% of the time it goes off neither is anyone elses. They also have tons of things better to do then have to "complain" (which they probably first asked about the issue but get labeled as complaining) and to still have to deal with an issue that in many cases a compromise probably could be reached. Perhaps its typical in small towns because larger towns and some cities have reduced their use, eliminated it totally etc and some of you just can't let go. However people have a right to a quality of life, and if they feel the noise of the siren is an issue then it is a quality of life issue. Call it what you want but it is the 21st Century and if anyone in a car making the same amount of noise volume at certain times if not at any time would be issue a nuisance or city/town code violation ticket. Just because it doesn't bother you (and your view will be slighted obviously) doesn't make theirs any less.

Sirens are becoming outdated, and I agree with BNechis it does assist w/ ISO but I think they have found their way as a viable back up. How one siren in a town of 30+ square miles means anything is beyond me. I'll agree with the airport comment..nothing is going to replace airplanes from quite a while.

While were at it..why don't those of you with the "have nothing better to do" comment tell me what it is they have better to do then go to their locally elected government about such as issue....

[JBE 328]

People complain because they don't understand. Maybe if someone asks, it should be explained to them. Maybe a mailout to residents explaining why the siren is needed would be a possible course of action. However, sounds like there are still a lot of bruised feelings towards Mahopac. That letter from the Keyport Chief could have been written a lot more politely than it was. No need for all the chest beating and what not.

Edited September 21, 2008 by JBE

[gamewell45 258]

First...just because someone disagrees or does not like a particular aspect of their local fire department does not mean they do not support what you do. Nothing gets me shaking my head more then that. Right up there with the "if it was their house on fire" like comments, because guess what it isn't their house on fire and 99.5% of the time it goes off neither is anyone elses. They also have tons of things better to do then have to "complain" (which they probably first asked about the issue but get labeled as complaining) and to still have to deal with an issue that in many cases a compromise probably could be reached. Perhaps its typical in small towns because larger towns and some cities have reduced their use, eliminated it totally etc and some of you just can't let go. However people have a right to a quality of life, and if they feel the noise of the siren is an issue then it is a quality of life issue. Call it what you want but it is the 21st Century and if anyone in a car making the same amount of noise volume at certain times if not at any time would be issue a nuisance or city/town code violation ticket. Just because it doesn't bother you (and your view will be slighted obviously) doesn't make theirs any less.

Sirens are becoming outdated, and I agree with BNechis it does assist w/ ISO but I think they have found their way as a viable back up. How one siren in a town of 30+ square miles means anything is beyond me. I'll agree with the airport comment..nothing is going to replace airplanes from quite a while.

While were at it..why don't those of you with the "have nothing better to do" comment tell me what it is they have better to do then go to their locally elected government about such as issue....

ALS, I must disagree with your rationale; while people have a right to a quality of life, the siren was most likely there before them; depending on how active the department is will obviously predicate how often the siren is used. it might be a nuisance to some of them, but its in the interests of public safety. To equate it with a car "making the same amount of noise volume" really has no bearing. The same could be said for fire apparatus responding with sirens blaring at 3am. Its an emergency situation and people should thus rationalize it such. Using your rationale, someone could complain about their neighbor mowing his lawn on a Saturday afternoon and make an issue out of it with city hall. Fire house sirens and mowing lawns are to be expected in small towns as there are volunteer fire departments and people who have lawns that need mowing. In my opinion there is no merit in either case.

[MoFire390 118]

i must say i enjoy hearing the siren rather then the air horns on some fire houses.

[JetPhoto 626]

Does Nyack still use the air horn to give the area of the alarm? Thats load.

Maybe I should complain to Metro North about the trains blowing the horns through the crossing in front of my house at 3 am. I'd bet they would just laugh.

[Guest alsfirefighter]

If you'd like to look at it that way I understand what you mean and I can't say I don't agree with you either to a point. Perhaps limiting the siren use after certain hours or for certain priority level calls as many departments have could be a good compromise and also would reflect very highly on the department that is not only tasked with public safety, but education and should be good neighbors as well. So maybe that takes care of the lawn mowing parallel. I know for a fact that some municipalities have regulations for certain types of work on weekends and during daytime hours. Also as far as using a siren at 3am. I work in an urban environment and rarely have to use it at that time frames and I certainly don't wail on it either. That's why there is that section in V & T Section 1104 that states "as may be reasonably necessary" for all the "if your lights are on your siren must be on" commentors or my favorite "if I'm up everyone is up." And whether any of us like it or not..you have the right to complain about anything in the world..that's what comes with democracy and freedom...some are crazier then others. I don't find those that raise issues with such sirens and alerting systems to be fruitless in todays day and age. But hey that's ok...that's what opinions are for...I don't think we really need them anymore and I'd rather fix my communications problem then rely on a siren that has a limited distance of effectiveness anyway.

Jet...you laugh but it has happened where I work. Again that's up there with the airport to me.

[Guest]

We only use the siren between 8 AM and 8 PM and only for fire calls.

The problem is that the siren was originally planned to be on top of the building and it's on a pole in the parking lot instead. I'm not sure who made the decision to move it but its on the site plan as on top of the building. So they're attempting to make us move it.

Actually, I think it's going to be even louder if it's on top of the building. I don't think it's going to save them any noise.

The thing is LOUD, there's no doubt about it. I can hear it loud and clear over hill and dale to my house two miles away.

But I do hear it even when I don't hear my pager and respond to the firehouse. Cell coverage is really spotty in Mahopac with all those hills.