Please Don't Drive Around Emergency Barricades

During the fierce thunderstorm that hit Tuesday night, the town's volunteer firefighters responded to more than 15 calls in about an hour. 

The calls included two water rescues, including one on Long Island Sound, and one car trapped under the bridge near Mungertown Road. Two houses were struck by lightning. And there were numerous power lines down in the area of Neck Road, and on Route 79, among other calls. 

"We were pretty busy," said Madison Hose Co. No. 1 Chief Bob Kyttle. "We had to prioritize calls as they came in, but we had plenty of members on hand and we swapped them in and out as the incidents occurred. The guys know that with that kind of storm they need to be on hand." 

Kyttle said he was concerned, however, about the number of residents who chose this time to disregard emergency barricades that had been set up during the storm, to shut off roads where emergency workers were conducting an operation, or to shut off areas that were dangerous due to high water or wires down. 

"One thing I'd like to mention is that the barricades are put up to block off these areas for a good reason, we don't put them up and then forget to take them down. If they are up, they are up for a reason," he said. 

During the storm earlier this week, some people actually moved emergency barricades to get around them, Kyttle said, and some people simply drove their cars around them. 

"Please don't do that," he said. "Don't drive around barricades and don't drive through water on the road."

Kyttle said driving around the barricades can endanger the driver, who might be trapped in rising water, or who might drive over a downed wire, potentially setting the car on fire. 

The barricades also protect the emergency workers, including the volunteer firefighters who are always on hand during emergencies like the storm earlier this week. Driving around the barricades can endanger the firefighters, Kyttle said. 

"If a barricade is up, and we're working, we think there are no cars coming along, so for our safety, as well as for the safety of the driver, they should not drive around the barricades," he said. 

Peeking down the street past the barricade to determine what's going on is not always useful, because the barricades can sometimes be set a quarter mile from the action. So just because it may look safe as you're looking down the street, doesn't mean it is safe to proceed.