Faulty Yorktown fire siren stirs Indian Point fear

[Guest EM2FD]

Faulty Yorktown fire siren stirs Indian Point fears

By MICHAEL G. MEANEY

mmeaney@thejournalnews.com

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: November 30, 2005)

YORKTOWN — A long-unused fire department siren started sounding shortly after 1 a.m. today, prompting more than 100 calls to police by residents concerned there was an emergency at the Indian Point nuclear power plants.

The siren wailed for 45 minutes before fire officials were able to turn it off, Yorktown police Lt. Donald Schuck said.

There was no problem at Indian Point.

Officials did not know why the siren went off at the Yorktown Height Fire Department's Locksley Firehouse at Routes 132 and 202. Yorktown Heights Fire Chief Martin McGannon deactivated the alarm, Schuck said.

"It has not been used for 15 to 20 years, and he (McGannon) was surprised that it was able to (work)," Schuck said.

The department received 42 calls on its 911 emergency line and 60 to 70 calls on non-emergency numbers, the lieutenant said.

Some callers were just disturbed by the noise, while others feared an Indian Point alert.

The fire department generally alerts firefighters with beepers or radios, but still tests its sirens, Schuck said.

Edited November 30, 2005 by EM2FD