Noon Whistle, a Blast from the Past

History of how fire alarms came to be

In researching the history of the noon whistle, it was discovered that the original intention of these whistles was to call out to the residents and rescue workers that there was a fire, tornado or other natural disaster, and warn them.

Fire Department Protocols

In most towns and cities you will find at least one fire department. In larger metropolitan areas, you may find multiple stations. Each of these stations may have more than one fire truck or squad. Today’s firefighters carry beepers, pagers or cell phones to alert them to a fire, but originally, they relied on a whistle, horn or a system of bells to let them know what area of town was on fire. Depending upon topography, some fire stations still use a bell system, because cell towers and electricity can be sporadic in the hills.

From the History of San Francisco, the following details how the fire bell system worked back in 1865:

The system was put into operation on April 24, 1865, and Charles A Stearns was its first superintendent. The complete system consisted of only thirty seven miles of wire. A typical set of directions for the proper use of the fire alarm boxes of the day is given below:

Upon the discovery of a fire near your signal box, turn the crank slowly and steadily about 25 or 30 times, then wait a few moments, and, if you hear no ticking in the box, or alarm on the bells, turn as before. If you still near no alarm, go to the next box and given the alarm from that. Never open the box or touch the crank, except in case of fire. Never signal for a fire seen at a distance. Be sure your box is locked before leaving it. (San Francisco)

Origin of Multiple Alarms

From this explanation, it is easy to see how the origins of multiple alarms came into being. Residents were instructed to “call” for help by using these strategically placed fire alarm “boxes”. If more than one resident pulled a box, it became a multiple alarm fire.

Multiple Alarm fire’s today

In the US today, there is still a reliance on this old system of bells and whistles to call for help. What happens when someone telephones 911, or pulls a fire box, differs from town to town, but for the most part, there is an elaborate decision tree that invokes calling in the rescuers, and also calling fellow fire fighter’s at neighboring fire stations, depending upon the size, and severity of the fire.

Sometimes these firefighters in neighboring towns act as back-ups to each other, and will unite their efforts in times of significant tragedy.

In the World Trade Center, 9/11 terrorist attack, there were multiple “fifth alarms” being called. Each time it would mean that 20 fire trucks and their squads from a specific fire station, were being called to action

Many towns still mark the noon hour by blowing the horn

Although fire and rescuers have used modern technology since the early 1900’s to call rescuer’s, some towns still blow their whistles at noon, and even some at 6:00 pm. Other’s use their whistles only to indicate fires, floods or tornado’s

MI: Lexington

CT: Hazardville, East Granby, Windsor Locks, Enfield

VT: Springfield, Bromley,

NJ: Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant, Brielle, Manasquan, Bay Head, Mantoloking

The sound of a noon whistle blowing brings comfort to many, marking the half way mark between the morning and the afternoon. It is a sign that all is well in the world. Some say the sound of a noon whistle is a nuisance, an inconvenience and out dated.

What is your opinion – comforting or a nuisance?

Sources:

http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist10/cfaspaper.html

http://gwe2.org/2008/12/13/warning-with-distinction-the-fire-whistle-in-haverstraw/

http://www.firehouse.com/forums/printthread.php?t=60389

http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Ch9.