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Fire Flyer
Here's the city's fire safety tip leaflet officials said will be distributed to all city residents in light of the string of arsons that continues. FireFlyer.pdf
Authorities continue to urge city residents to call 911 to report any suspicious activity as well as descriptions, such as license plate numbers, colors of suspicious vehicles, descriptions of suspicious people, strangers messing with trash cans or late-night trespassers.
Authorities also urged residents to remove any items from their porches that could be used to start a fire. Residents are asked to keep their porch lights on throughout the night or install motion detector lights. Additionally, residents should make sure their smoke detectors are working properly and residents have planned escape routes.
In an effort to have quicker responses to arson related incidents, officials released a phone number for a roving police patrol supervisor during late evening and early morning hours. Residents can call 610-636-0514 to report suspicious activity.
City officials are also seeking volunteers for the newly formed Neighborhood Watch program. Officials are seeking "block watch captains" in each of the city's five wards to "assist the police in apprehending the arsonist(s) responsible for tragic fires taking place in our city." Informational Neighborhood Watch meetings will be held at City Hall from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
And just FYI, there is a City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday night at City Hall.
Authorities continue to urge city residents to call 911 to report any suspicious activity as well as descriptions, such as license plate numbers, colors of suspicious vehicles, descriptions of suspicious people, strangers messing with trash cans or late-night trespassers.
Authorities also urged residents to remove any items from their porches that could be used to start a fire. Residents are asked to keep their porch lights on throughout the night or install motion detector lights. Additionally, residents should make sure their smoke detectors are working properly and residents have planned escape routes.
In an effort to have quicker responses to arson related incidents, officials released a phone number for a roving police patrol supervisor during late evening and early morning hours. Residents can call 610-636-0514 to report suspicious activity.
City officials are also seeking volunteers for the newly formed Neighborhood Watch program. Officials are seeking "block watch captains" in each of the city's five wards to "assist the police in apprehending the arsonist(s) responsible for tragic fires taking place in our city." Informational Neighborhood Watch meetings will be held at City Hall from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
And just FYI, there is a City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday night at City Hall.
posted by Daily Local at
8:38 AM
13 Comments:
so when will the city website be updated to let us know when the meetings are? and why does council only meet every other week. i think there are plenty of problems with the city that might require some more time and attention. also it might cut down on the length of the meetings.
so when will the city info packet be sent out so we know when the trash holidays are? last year there was no trash on Martin Luther King Day so i didn't put out my trash and sure enough the trash was collected that day. if i had a info kit i would have known that and had my trash ready for pick up.
i see that the city is reccomending that we pick up trash in our yards, now there is a novel thought, to help deter the firebug. i am certain that somewhere in the codes it is said that residents will keep a neat yard and porch free of trash and couches, etc. i keep a neat yard free of debris but what if my neighbor doesn't? will the city be goign around and citing folks for litter and yards, houses, etc that are not up to code? my home is in jepordy if my neigbors house is targeted. also, the fire personnel lives are in danger when these fores are set. the flyer is needed asap but maybe the city could be a little bit proactive as well and do everyhitng in the power to force people to comply with the codes. it could help clean up the city and potentially save lives and porerty at the same time.
just some rambling thoughts....
There is a city council meeting this Monday night. 1/26 at 7:30 pm. Don't forget to post the property numbers on the back of your home too as they can cite you for this now. Yes everyone should keep their back yard and porch clean even if there isn't a firebug!
A MEMO TO THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, CITY FATHERS, POLICE CHIEF AND FIRE CHIEF IN THE CITY OF COATESVILLE:
1. You have a problem in your city.
2. Person(s) unknown are burning down your city, endangering your residents and leaving others homeless.
3. This problem is bigger than your always dedicated and highly motivated fire companies can handle, bigger than your City resources can handle, and possibly even bigger than Chester County can handle.
4. It is time to be PROactive instead of reactive. I recommend a Google search of “Devils Night Camden Detroit Fires” to read some in depth articles on how the problem of rampant arson in a specific area can be addressed.
5. It’s time to ask the Governor for specific assets from the National Guard to patrol the city (maybe in specific locations and during times that you have mapped out as target problem areas).
6. It’s time to request two man teams in marked fire department administrative vehicles to patrol your city during hours of darkness (maybe in specific locations and during times that you have mapped out as target problem areas). These crews would be tasked with becoming another pair of eyes for the police, provide a marked official presence to discourage arson and possibly even discover small fires and stop them before they become bigger. This is a big undertaking, but fire departments both volunteer and paid throughout the Mid-Atlantic States would be glad to help, lessening the burden to your City in what might turn out to be a very long season of arson. These vehicles could be equipped with several pressurized water extinguishers, hand lights, etc. and a radio on a common County talkgroup. When the weather and freezing temperatures permit, perhaps mini-pumpers could be used as well.
Oh, and one final note: In the fire service it’s an old adage that BIG fires require BIG water and BIG manpower to extinguish. Hopefully within minutes after the fire is reported. Why in God’s name do you continue to let a staffed engine company sit unused up on the hill when you’ve called engine companies in from other counties miles away? I’m sure your residents would like to know.
From a resident.
1.There needs to be leadership and has to come from the top!
The leadership needs to take ownership of the current situation!
2.Have an action plan with a road map. A vision of the big picture.
3.Get State/Federal Emergency Funding.
4. Cultivate Progress and conscientious awareness.
5. For now, Patrol, Patrol, Patrol!
Reach out to neighboring townships and State Police to supplement patrol resources. Initiate any measures necessary to restore ORDER and SAFETY to the city.
We as citizens have a heightened sense of awareness of the situation. And I'm sure simple measures of determent have been implemented. We have a lot at stake here!
The Police know the hot spots.
The City is a couple miles from bridge to bridge.
Stay focused and MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!!
There is no words to describe the effects of these continuing fires. How can a person sleep at night? anybody could be next. I just heard on the most recent news report that they are going to declare Coatesville a state of emergency. that will qualify the city for additional resources at no cost.
These fires are causing all kinds of problems besides the obvious ones, soon every insurance company will rate coatesville as a high risk area and your insurance premium will be double.
Not to mention that some of these burned homes will never be repaired, causing the ones around them to be worth less at resale.
There are a LOT of street lights out in town, I counted 10 on just Lincoln hwy. darkness helps breed criminal activity. We need to attack this problem from every angle including the small things like lights.
Everyone should be at the council meeting Monday night and speak out. Football season is about over.
My fellow neighbors,
In addition to leaving your lights on,and clearing the trash. You can purchase motion sensors (driveway alarms) that alarm in your house whenever something passes through the sensor. Place one facing your front and back deck... if anyone attempts to come near it, you'll hear the alarm. It most likely wont stop them itself, However you'll know imediatly, before the fire is actually started. They can be purchased online, as well as in some hardware stores.
Just an idea, if enough people are alerted BEFORE, and call in... sooner or later SOMEONE will see adn hopefully catch these sick animals!
Be safe...and continue to pray!
January 25, 2009 6:55 PM: wonderful idea!
This has been going on for at least a year now, starting off small and now escalating to whole blocks. Why did it take the officials of the City of Coatesville so long to ask for help? They should have put this much effort into it last year and maybe those poor families on Fleetwood street would still have their homes. I sure hope they catch those responsible, they should be made to pay for damages.
Considering the fact that the last arsonist was caught and held on evidence stemming from a security camera I would suggest that some folks buy a set of motion sensor IR cordless cams with a PC feed program. I paid $150 for mine a few years back and it has answered all my concerns with who and what enters my property at night.If I lived in one of these neighborhoods it is likely I'd already have footage of the perp(s). Nothing like time stamped footage to aid in an investigation. If just one person had the right footage this would all be over. If I could afford some wildlife cams I'd be strapping these things in every alley I could.
Money is what talks! Make the reward large enough, someone will come forward and spill their guts.
Also, Jenn, I listened to you on Don Lemon's show Sunday night on CNN. I'm glad Don straightened you out. You insinuated that because Coatesville is such a small town, no way would the National Guard come out and protect these people that are being terrorized. Don let you know that these poor small town people deserve to be protected as well as anyone else! This is definitely a form of terrorism. If it was West Chester, it would been taken care of by now!
The flyer cannot be read since there is a black streak 5" thick going straight through it.
Try again. And while you are printing flyers, please send out the Coatesville trash calendar. It is tiresome every year to go past February and not have an up to date calendar.
HERE WE GO AGAIN. PROMISES PROMISES AND STILL NO TOWN WATCH!
from what I hear the Guardian Angels are actively training and should graduate soon.
bless all who are doing it!
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