www.roanoke.com

Fincastle - Can emergency responders find you? It's much easier if your house numbers are clearly posted.
It has been 10 years since Botetourt County implemented Enhanced 911 service. In addition to installing highly specialized telephone and mapping equipment in the Emergency Communications Center, most County addresses were changed to a more effective, distance-based address system in order to make it easier for Fire, Rescue and Law Enforcement responders to quickly locate the scene of emergencies.
The system continues to work extremely well, but responders are often frustrated by the failure of some residents and businesses to properly post their street addresses.
"The numbering system generally works really well to help get us to the scene", remarked Jason Ferguson, Captain of the County's paid response staff. "You'd be surprised though, at the minutes we can shave off of a response time if numbers are clearly posted". Darryl Johns, Chief of the Eagle Rock Volunteer Fire Department, echoes the concern. "While responses to structure fires are sometimes easy to see from the road, most are not. The point is to put the fire out long before it gets big enough to see. If we are wasting time trying to turn a 32 foot truck around because the numbers weren't clearly posted, that fire has time to grow".
Assistant to the County Administrator, Spencer Suter, who originally helped implement the 911 program reminds residents that the correct posting of numbers is required by County code and offers the following advice:
"First, commit to posting your numbers properly. If they are not posted, you should make the time to do it as soon as possible. Even if your numbers are already posted, inspect them and ensure that they are fulfilling the intended purpose of guiding emergency service responders to your home or business, during both day and night, and in all weather conditions. Residential numbers should be at least 3 inches in height and businesses, 4 to 8 inches. Ideally, the numbers should be reflective and should be
EMERGENCY SERVICES
205 N. Roanoke Street, Suite 1
Fincastle, Virginia 24090
Phone: (540) 473-2098
Fax: (540) 473-8288
www.botetourt.org
posted so that the entrance to the structure can be clearly seen from an approach in either direction".
The applicable County code section can be viewed online at: http://www.botetourt.org/government/documents/mc/ch002.pdf (Municipal Code section 2 - Administration, Article IX, Div. 2)
Reflective numbers are inexpensive and can be purchased at most hardware stores. Chief Johns sums up the behest to residents by saying, "You never know when you'll need assistance from our crews. Please help us help you by posting your numbers properly."

--submitted by Spencer Suter