Garden City Park alarm system to be tested

Garden City Park Fire Department is running a 30-day test of its audible alarm system to measure its effectiveness in alerting volunteers to calls.

The test is being conducted daily through the third week of December between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and will affect both the department's headquarters on Jericho Turnpike and its substation on Denton Avenue.

During the test, an alarm siren will sound anytime the volunteer department gets a fire or EMS call, said Assistant Chief Robert Mirabile.

Typically, the alarm goes off when an officer in charge so orders, when a fire is confirmed at the scene, or when a fire is reported by phone.

The intent is to see whether the daytime alarm sirens draw more responders.

"We do have adequate response in the daytime, we're just trying to see if we can increase response," Mirabile said.

Fire officials say the sirens are a reliable way to communicate with their 125 volunteers. Alerts can come by pager or cellular phone, but both can experience dead spots, lose battery power or be left in a car or at home while running errands.

Mirabile said he has already noticed a change. "I've had several firefighters come to me and say, 'I made the alarm because I heard the siren,' " he said.

Some residents near the Denton Avenue station have complained; others have said the siren alerts them to be on the watch for emergency vehicles, fire officials said.

After the test, the chief's office will analyze the impact and report back to the Board of Fire Commissioners. "We didn't want to be inconsiderate to our neighbors and just turn them [the sirens] on," Mirabile said.

To comment about the alarm test or for information, email info@gcpfire.org.