Nov 23, 2007

It’s a real (t)horn in their side.

That’s what a group of residents, shoppers and business owners want First Selectman Evonne Klein to know about the Darien Fire Department’s fire horn.

The horn is used to alert volunteer firefighters throughout the town that their service is needed.

Last month, approximately 200 signed petitions were sent to Klein asking that use of the horn be terminated. Accompanying the petitions was a letter from Dr. Robert Dembroski of CT Chiropractic Neurology Center, which is located next door to the firehouse.

According to Zembroski’s letter, as a neurologist, he “treats every neurological dysfunction such as tremors, migraines, panic attacks, racing heart, irregular heartbeat, etc.”

Zembroski writes that the fire horn can be harmful to his patients’ health, by causing “increased heart rate, changes in the heart rhythm, changes in blood flow to the brain, increased respiration, etc.”

Klein said she has met with residents before regarding fire horns at the Noroton Heights and Noroton fire departments, and they have made adjustments. Regarding the latest petition, she said no plans are in place to make any changes until the Board of Selectmen can discuss the issue.

“We’ve had this on the board agenda before. It is backup for their beepers. They feel the need for the fire horn,” she said.

The horn calls the volunteer firefighters to duty. The firefighters are also called using a beeper system. The three fire departments in Darien are comprised of volunteers.
Zembroski said the petition was necessary after previous efforts to get the horn silenced didn’t work. He also said the horn method is antiquated.

“In this day of 2008, we don’t need to be letting Greenwich know that Darien has a problem,” he said.

Zembroski reiterated that in his practice, a sudden loud noise could cause health issues.

“I don’t appreciate such an explosive noise in a healing environment,” he said.
Darien Fire Chief Douglas Lockhart said  no one approached his department about the horn directly. He heard second-hand about the petition, and said the current loud system has been in place since the 1950s.  Some sort of siren or loud alert system has been in place since the department began in 1890.

While neighboring New Canaan does not use a fire horn, Lockhart said the difference is that New Canaan has paid firefighters in addition to volunteers. Rowayton does use fire horns, which Lockhart said is a redundant system — redundant in the best way.

“As chief, I feel there’s a need for a way to alert volunteers,” he said.

Lockhart said in case of emergency when telecommunications breakdown, the horn is the only way volunteers can be alerted. He also said the department is always seeking ways to limit the use of the horn.

“We used to use it with the daily time test at 6 p.m. We don’t use it at that time anymore. We’ve also reduced the number of false alarms through an ordinance in town,” he said.

By limiting the number of false alarms, the calls per year are down as many as 100 calls, to about 600.

Klein said the number of petitioners is “a far larger segment of the population” than she’s heard from before in her tenure as First Selectman.

“Positive or negative, they will be heard and some action will be taken,” she said.
Klein said the fact that petitions were submitted is a good sign of faith by the community.

“It is a testament that the government is responsive.”

Lockhart said he will attend any meeting of the board regarding the horn and is open to discussion.

“I live in town. I have lived here a long time. Clearly as a chief of a volunteer fire department, I care about the townspeople and what they have to say. I’m there to help people in town.”

E-mail Darien Times reporter Susan Shultz at sshultz@darientimes.com.



© Copyright 2007 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers

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