Dec 6, 2007
By Susan Shultz, Times Reporter

A petition signed by a group of merchants, residents and shoppers objecting to the Darien Fire Departments fire horn was discussed at the Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday.

Marc McEwan spoke on behalf of the fire departments as emergency management director, deputy fire marshal and chief of the Noroton Heights Fire Department.

McEwan explained that the horn is common for all volunteer fire departments such as Darien. Paid fire departments do not need this type of communication.

He said other means of communication depend on outside networks which can be unreliable.

McEwan said the commission might consider hiring a consultant to deal with the dispatch process.

Klein recommended the fire commission organize a meeting with neighbors and merchants.

Former selectman Barbara Thorne suggested either adjusting the tone of the horn or providing a pre-beat as a warning that the horn is coming.

“Then you can hold onto your martini,” she said.

Debbie Parnon of Darien Revitalization said she would help coordinate the meeting between merchants and the fire commission and said she’s heard many complaints about the sound of the horn.

Jim Mageras of Sedgwick Avenue told the board that although the fire horn is the authority of the fire commission, the selectmen make decisions about sound quality.

A fireman who works in New Canaan said his department is reconsidering bringing back the fire horn to make sure it has a secondary form of communication.

Klein said she’d refer the health issues about sound pollution to the health department and the fire department issues to the fire commission.

Dennis Smith, who is the past chief of the Darien Fire Department, spoke in favor of the horn. He said the human factor makes the horn crucial. He said it’s easy to forget to turn a pager on.

“I can’t tell you with words how important the horn system is,” he said.

The selectmen concluded that the horn issue would be sent back to the commission, and Klein said the board takes the petitions seriously.

“We look forward to hearing back from the commission.”

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

Previously on DarienTimes.com
200 call for DFD to quiet its hornFriday Nov. 23

© Copyright 2007 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers