amot@uunet.uu.net> (05/12/91)
I found this article in the Sunday May 12th edition of {The Toronto
Star}. It may be of interest to TELECOM readers.
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WAILING AIR SIRENS CAUSE STIR IN MISSISSAUGA
By Carol Moffatt and Peter Small
TORONTO STAR
Thousands of Missisauga residents were shocked from their sleep when
malfunctioning air raid sirens began screeching just after 4 a.m.
yesterday.
"I woke up around 5:30 and thought it was a machine left on or
something," Mayor Hazel McCallion said yessterday.
It wasn't until she went outside to check her car alarm that she
realized the noise was coming from sirens in the distance.
Hundreds of residents phoned the local fire and police departments,
but were told nothing could be done because the federal defence
department was responsible.
In fact, the siren signalling system is overseen by Bell Canada.
A defective circuitry in the central office in Oakville was
responsible, said Bell representative Geoff Mathews.
"It just kind of wore out, kind of like a lightbulb doees. These
things have a limited lifespan ... once a year you can expect this
sort of thing," he said.
McCallion didn't agree.
"The kind of confusion that was reported is not necessary. If (the
circuits) need to be maintained they should be serviced regularly,"
she said.
"It will be thoroughly investigated Monday."
Bell spokesperson Alex Bilyk said technicians receive a call from
the armed forces when the sirens started at 4:15 a.m. They were shut
off at 5:20 a.m. but were on again from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. before being
shut off for good.
John Richardson of Pinewood Rd. in Mississauga said he and his wife
decided to make the best of it. "We're having what we call an air
raid party."
Adam Mottershead (amot@wcsd.uucp)