Community Corner

Resident: Fire Siren Almost Knocked Me Down

Susan Heuberger says "Frankenstein like bell" is a hazard to human health.

 

A Middlefield resident says she was nearly knocked off her feet by a siren used by the town's fire department to alert volunteers of an emergency.

Susan Heuberger, whose home at 118 Way Road is nearby to one of the town's three fire sirens, asked that the town stop using the new sirens which were to replace older sirens.

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"I was outside and the firen siren went off and it almost knocked me down, it took away my breath, gave me a chest pain," said Heuberger, who compared the siren to "a Frankestein like bell."

"The level of the decibles is quite high and looking into the internet, high vibrational decibles can be harmful to human health. I've got 20 people on my street ready to sign a petition against this."

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Heuberger raised the issue during Tuesday night's Board of Selectman meeting, adding that she'd tried to contact Middlefield Fire Chief Pete Tyc to discuss the issue but could not reach him.

First Selectman Jon Brayshaw agreed the siren on Way Road produced "the strangest sound I've ever heard."

"I don't like them any more than you do," he said.

Heuberger was also upset because she claimed the town's two other sirens — located near the Rockfall Garage and at the firehouse — are not working. "If these sirens are necessary than it's necessary to get the other two repaired," she said.

Brayshaw said he was told all three emergency sirens were working, a claim that Heuberger disputed.

"I was told by the emergency manager today that the two are not working. I was told that the only reason that the one that goes off at six o'clock at night is to let people know that it's six o'clock. We don't need that in this day in age," Heuberger said.

Fire officials have said the sirens are used as a mandatory secondary means of alerting firefighters to an emergency in town. Brayshaw said the sirens are scheduled to go off at 6 p.m. as a daily test of the system.

Brayshaw agreed to set up a meeting between Heuberger and Tyc so they could discuss the issue.

Police Cruiser Not Marked

At the meeting, resident Marianne Corona said the town's newest police cruiser still had not been marked  to do so.

"It's gonna be done," Brayshaw said.

"How long does it take to get it done?" Corona asked.

Brayshaw said he was informed last week by Resident Trooper Eric Kelly that the decals were coming.


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