Frequently Asked Questions
If I have an emergency, who should I call
?
Effective
June 17, 1998 Luzerne County implemented the "911" system. To report
an emergency, even on a cellular phone, just dial 911. Be prepared
to give the dispatcher necessary information, such as phone number, type
of emergency, etc.
What should I do when weather
related damage happens?
Recently, firefighting
resources have been taxed responding to storm incidents. The public should
be aware that events such as telephone or cable wires down, sparking electric
transformers and other similar incidents should be reported ONLY to the public
utility who controls them. Firefighters do not handle PPL issues or handle
any downed power lines. When calling PPL, have a location and/or a pole
number that is close to the problem. PPL will then dispatch an emergency
team to handle the situation.
Trees that are "leaning" on power lines or telephone
wires should also be reported to the public utility, as we do not remove them.
We encourage everyone to contact their public utilities
and encourage them to have an aggressive transmission line maintenance plan.
This will help keep trees and limbs away from the lines and ensure that you have
power, cable and telephone service in a storm. Over the past several
years we have seen a decline in this program and have subsequently seen a
drastic increase in these types of calls.
What is the most common mistake ?
The
most common mistake people make is by telling the dispatcher that they
live in "White Haven" or "Freeland" when they actually live in Foster Township.
The person making the call should specify that they have an emergency in
Foster Township. We have had several emergencies when crucial minutes
have been wasted by this mistake. Also, please make sure that your
Alarm Company knows that you live in Foster Township.
Remember Foster Township !
Is "911" all I need to get help quick?
No, in order to provide the quickest response
possible, you must make sure that your house is numbered or marked very
clearly. The best way to see if your house is properly marked, without turning
any outside lights on, drive your car in front of your house and see if you can
see the number! If you can't you should make corrections. You can also make
sure that your driveways are cut at least 12 feet
across, so that apparatus can get in your driveway.
How are you dispatched ?
The
Fearnots Volunteer Fire Department is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. We are dispatched through the Luzerne County 911 Center, located
in Hanover Township, Pa. We use Motorola Minitor IV & V pagers which
receive a tone and voice message. The dispatch frequency is on Luzerne
County Fire/EMS Dispatch - 157.4500, while fireground operations are usually
carried out on 153.770.
How are additional alarms
determined?
The
alarm system currently in place is based upon past experience and a detailed
inspection of the area. These alarms have been designed to provide the
quickest response with the needed equipment. They also take into
consideration the fact that the possibility exists for limited manpower and
equipment in the event of a daytime event. When a fire company officer
responds to a particular emergency, he uses the alarms to summon neighboring
fire departments to assist.
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