Chelan Fire & Rescue Considers ‘Air Raid’ Siren Activation

Chelan Fire and Rescue is considering reactivating the downtown 'air raid' siren in an effort to alert the community to larger, multi alarm incidents. The reactivation is being considered due to not only the high fire danger within the fire district, but recent staffing cuts and downturn in volunteers.

"We're looking at ways to have the community be part of our response," said Assistant Chief Brandon Asher. "The goal is to get people to look up, look around, look for smoke. We're not setting this off to scare people."

The siren would be activated when Chelan has all five of the stations responding and all firefighters are requested.

"We're really concerned about the help we may get if we do get large fires," said Asher.

With the all hands on deck approach to COVID-19 on the westside and the U.S. Forest Service is under the process of figuring out how to train hand crews with social distancing.

"We have to recognize those are issues I don't think are going away before summer starts," said Asher. "Activating the siren is something we're hoping will just give the community, even if it's a two minute head start to look up and look around."