from the 2025 town report Fire Alarm Division Acton’s Municipal Fire Alarm system, installed in 1930 by Earl Hayward, originally allowed residents to report fires via red street- or building-mounted fire alarm boxes, which transmitted coded telegraph signals to alert the fire department. The system expanded to more than 450 boxes, including 223 master boxes, 182 street, 20 medical boxes, and 36 radio boxes, providing fast, reliable, location-specific alarms 126 before voice communication and 911 existed. Master boxes in schools, factories, and municipal buildings automatically transmitted alarms from internal systems, while street boxes were publicly accessible. With advances in 911 and central monitoring technology, the municipal fire alarm system has become largely redundant. Beginning this fall and over the next two to three years, Acton will be decommissioning the system due to obsolete technology, rising maintenance costs, false alarms, and vandalism. The removal process will start with street boxes, followed by master boxes, with property owners having been notified of necessary upgrades. For residents, 911 remains the primary method for reporting fire or medical emergencies. The Fire Alarm Division currently maintains the system wiring on utility poles and decoding equipment at the four fire stations and the Public Safety Building, operating across 15 circuits and three tie-lines. Responsibilities include routine maintenance, pole transfers, box refurbishments, and banner installation for community events. The division also supports other projects and continues coordinating with MassDOT on intersection improvements, including wiring relocations for the near-completion of the Kelly’s Corner project. Captain/EMT Kris Ellicks – Fire Alarm Superintendent Captain/Paramedic Jim Byrne – Fire Alarm Lineman
(what happens when the 911 system goes down? you better know the backup phone numbers - the real numbers - and your cellphone netter be charged up - and the cell towers better not be down - zerg90) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "massfire" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/massfire/CAFXWwKasNw%2BGitRgrHLRr1qLfv8sOjCcZkF03vm%2Bto6zG0-n9Q%40mail.gmail.com.
