Lewes Fire Department explains need for siren

Milton firefighters were at the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center in Lewes Oct. 23 to cover for the Lewes Fire Department, which was holding a community meeting to discuss the need for a fire siren, when they suddenly raced out to respond to a crash on Route 24. The incident was serious, but the town’s fire siren did not sound.   

Meanwhile, Lewes’ fire officials continued with the meeting, held in response to complaints from nearby residents about the volume and frequency of the siren. 

Joe Kosaveach, who lives near Station 1 on Savannah Road, said he had no issues with the siren until it was replaced in 2011. 

“When they cranked up this new one, that thing is punishing,” he said.

Kosaveach previously worked in law enforcement and taught firearms training, where he sustained hearing loss. He asked department officials to consider lowering the volume.

“If you maybe lowered it 5 or 10 decibels, that might take the edge off of it,” he said. 

The siren sounds for one minute, 10 seconds, which is enough for five up-and-down cycles. It ranges from 102 to 115 decibels. At 3,000 feet, the level is about 70 decibels. 

The siren has sounded six times in October, including twice for the house fire in Lewes Crossing on Oct. 6. As of Oct. 23, the fire department had responded to 250 calls this month. So far this year, the siren has sounded 41 times during daylight hours and 47 times at night. The department has received 640 fire calls and more than 3,000 EMS calls. 

As of Oct. 1, Capt. Gordon Davis, former fire chief and president, said adjustments were made to limit the incidents requiring the siren. Removed from the list were water rescues and all motor vehicle accidents, except those with someone trapped. Davis expects usage to drop 25 percent. 

“It’s loud. We understand that,” he said. “We’re doing our best to provide a service to the community but at the same time make decisions with interests of the entire community. We’re trying our best to curb use of the siren as best we can.”

When a call for fire or EMS service is received at Sussex County Emergency Operations Center in Georgetown, it sends out an alert to emergency personnel in the jurisdiction, Davis said. For most calls, an alert is sent to a pager and to responders’ cellphones via text message. Only in the most severe cases does the fire siren sound – a serious accident involving a trapped person, a fire, or if no one has responded after eight minutes. 

The siren is still an important tool for the fire department because it is the final backup for firefighters, Davis said. It’s not uncommon for firefighters to be outside their homes without their pager or cellphone when the siren goes off. Some longer-tenured firefighters don’t carry either with them anymore because they do not respond to lesser incidents. 

“I have been the only one who responded in the middle of the night, and I’ve had to call people on the phone,” he said.

Fire Chief Bill Henry Buckaloo said technology isn’t always reliable either. He said he hears complaints from his colleagues every month at his fire chief meeting at the Sussex EOC about firefighters not receiving alerts.

Councilman Rob Morgan said his research found that many volunteer fire departments across the country are ending the use of their sirens. Of the 92 volunteer departments in Erie County, N.Y., he said about half no longer use sirens.

Davis said it’s likely those departments use an alerting system that is far more reliable than what’s available in Lewes. 

“Two times this year the only alerting tool that worked was the siren,” he said. “Both of those incidents were working structure fires.”

Morgan pointed out that Rehoboth Beach’s siren is only activated during the day. The only time it can be used at night is if no one responds to a call. He urged Lewes’ fire officials to adopt a similar policy. 

The department has two sirens – one at Station 1 on Savannah Road and another at Station 2 in Nassau. The Nassau siren is about 10 decibels lower. Station 3, which is shared with Rehoboth Beach, does not have a siren. 

While many residents were concerned about the volume and even need for the siren, there were several in attendance who voiced support for the siren.

Anne Schulze, a 30-year resident of Drake Knoll, needed the department’s help after her home was struck by lightning in 2011. She said her home quickly filled with smoke. She also had a disabled husband downstairs who would need help. Her neighbor saw the strike and quickly called for help.

“I know it bothers people, but when you hear it go off, I want you to say a prayer,” she said. “I love that siren because it saved my life.”