Perry Township Fire Department equipped with digital-alert system
A local volunteer fire department has embraced a digital-alert system to make first responders and motorists safer in times of emergencies.
Perry Township Fire Chief AJ Boni said the Haas Alert system reaches drivers that use the free 鈥淲aze鈥� app, which alerts motorists to hazards or emergency vehicles on the roadways.
鈥淎ny time emergency lights are activated, (Haas is) turned on,鈥� Boni said, adding that the system is working to include other GPS-based apps and devices in their service.
Boni said the township agreed to pay for the service for the first four years, which came to about $2 a day for the two vehicles鈥搕he fire department鈥檚 engine and rescue vehicle鈥搊n which the system was installed about six months ago.
Motorists using the Waze app will get an alert within a quarter of a mile from the emergency vehicle, and Boni said the vehicles they鈥檝e equipped are the vehicles normally placed a quarter or half a mile from the accident scene. That, he said, will offer an early warning for motorists to slow down and approach with caution.
鈥淪o you have plenty of time,鈥� Boni said. 鈥淚t gets you to pay attention.鈥�
He added that the system can also generate reports to the fire department that include their response times as well as data on how many people received the alert.
Boni also said the system also helps the department鈥檚 push to educate the public on the move-over laws that require motorists to slow down and, when able, get into another lane when coming up to police, fire or ambulances performing their duties on the roadways.
Earlier this month, Matthew Smelser, a paramedic supervisor with Rostraver/West Newton EMS, was struck and killed by a commercial vehicle off of Interstate 70 while tending to a patient near the Smithton exit in South Huntingdon, Westmoreland County.
鈥淲e鈥檙e asking the public to help keep us safe by watching for these alerts when they鈥檙e on the road,鈥� Boni said. 鈥淗aas Alert gives us a new layer of protection and gives other drivers more time to slow down when they approach us.鈥�
鈥淲e all want to get home safe, and this makes the roads safer for everyone,鈥� Boni said.
For more information on the Haas Alert system, visit www.haasalert.com. The Waze app is free to download for both Apple and Android devices.