Critical Safety Warning - Call 9-1-1 for ALL Emergencies

Over the past year, the Somers Fire Department has received more than 50 emergency calls directly to the fire station, including four just this past weekend. This practice is unacceptable, extremely dangerous, and puts lives and property at serious risk.

Let me be very clear: the fire station is not always staffed. When someone calls the station instead of 911, the call may go unanswered or cause significant delays in response. In emergency situations, every second counts.

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Why Calling 911 Matters:

• Rapid Fire Growth: Fires can double in size every 30 seconds. What starts as a small fire can quickly grow beyond control. Delay in response means greater destruction, increased danger, and limited survivability.

• Life-Threatening Medical Emergencies: A person can bleed out in under five minutes. Someone not breathing can suffer irreversible brain damage or death within minutes. Time matters — and calling 911 gets trained help on the way immediately.

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Common Myths – And the Reality:

We frequently hear from residents who call the firehouse with statements like:

• “Can you just send one guy to check something out?”

• “Please don’t use lights or sirens, it’s not a big deal.”

• “I didn’t want to bother 911 for something minor.”

Here’s the truth:

We follow strict, written response protocols for every emergency. The number of personnel, type of apparatus, and level of urgency are not based on what the caller thinks they need — they are based on department policy, risk, and safety standards.

Calling the station instead of 911 changes nothing — we will respond the same way as if you called 911, except we will arrive later. And that delay could be the difference between rescue and tragedy.

Thank you for your cooperation!

David Lenart

Fire Chief