Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-07
New Afraid Signals
May Still Sirens Of
Emergency Vehicles
Whitehurst Unit Studies
Use of Bells, Whistles
To Avoid Confusion

The possibility that the use OF
sirens on fire apparatus. ambulances
and police cars will have to be
abandoned to avoid confusion with
the new air raid signals was con-
coded last night by Capt. H. c
Whitehurst. civilian defense directo,
for the District.
Capt. Whitehurst said no decision
vet had been reached. A committee
now is studying the new rules and is
expected to make a report to him
and to the Commissioners Wednes-
day or Thursday.
The new air raid precaution sig
nails. arranged by military authori-
ties and scheduled to become effec-
tive February II, specify that no
signal may be used in any commu-
nifty that might be confused with a
raid. signal.
In nearby communities, where vol
unteer hremen are summoned to
flrehouses by long blasts from sirens
mounted at the stations. the prob
lem is particularly serious. These
signals are exactly similar to the new
RAID signals designated for blackout.
and it appeared certain that local
authorities would be forced to take
some action to prevent confusion in
compliance with the military order.
May Use Bells and Whistles.
II no other way is found to avoid
confusion between blackout and air
raid sirens and the sirens on emer-
gency vehicles, Capt. Whitehurst
said, the fire and police departments
as we'll as ambulances might have
TO resort to the use Of bells or ex-
haust whistles as has already been
done in some other Eastern cities
Such a change, however, would in
Volve another complication the
shortage of critical metals from
which bells and whistles are made
A high officer assigned to the
military district of Washington said
yesterday that no specific orders
had been issued by the commanding
general here, Brig. Gen. John T.
Lewis, which would require any
community to abandon its emer-
gency sirens. He said the function
OF the military district was to pro-
mulgate the basic rules drawn up
by military authorities at recent
meeting in New York and that the
responsibility for putting the details
Into effect rested with the communi-
ties themselves.
Meanwhile, Albert E. Brault,
Montgomery County civilian de-
tense director, said he will meet
with county fire chiefs at IL am.
today at the Chevy Chase Firehouse
to. discuss change in the present
system of summoning volunteers by
siren.
Siren Is Automatic.
Mr.. Brault said the problem is
complicated by hookup of sirens
and telephones in several of the I
volunteer flrehouses. Under this |
setup, the siren sounds automatical- |
ly when. call is made to the fire.
house to report a fire.
He added that he would recon-
mend to the fire chiefs tomorrow
that siren blast of Is to 20 seconds
be used, to be repeated after a
one minute pause. to summon fire.
men to their stations. Such a sys-
tenn has been approved by Army
ofncials, he explained.
similar nlan has been S,lpoeste6 |
by j. Robert Sherwood, Prince !
Georges County civilian defense di- |
rector Mr.. Sherwood said the pro-
posal is now being considered by
special committee of the County Vol
unteer Firemen's Association and
report will be made to him Thurs
day.
In Arlington County, plans are
being made for change in the !