CUYAHOGA FALLS: Because minutes can mean the difference between life and death, house or business numbers that aren’t visible from the street are frustrating for emergency crews.
Falls assistant fire Chief Fred Jackson said the average response time to an emergency is 3.3 minutes.
“If it’s a fire and the house isn’t marked, you can find the one with the smoke coming out,” Jackson said. “But when we’re getting called to the baby not breathing or the person who fell down the steps, where there is more than one house that isn’t marked, it potentially adds several minutes to finding them.”
On Monday, Mayor Don Robart announced a program aimed at fixing the problem.
City employees will be placing door hangers at homes and businesses where the address is not visible from the street. (Robart emphasized that the employees will not enter the homes or businesses.)
Residents and business owners are asked to look at their addresses from the street to make sure that they are visible — day and night. If not, the numbers should be replaced with numbers at least 3 inches high and one-half inch wide, in keeping with the Cuyahoga Falls property maintenance code. Reflective numbers are preferred but not required. A porch light or lamp post will help keep the numbers visible at night.
Light bulbs that blink when turned on can be purchased from the electric department.
Addresses should be placed on both sides of mailboxes.
The color of the numbers should contrast to the color of the building. When they are the same color, they can’t be seen, Jackson said.
Contact the Community Development Department, Housing Division, at 330-971-8135 or the fire department at 330-971-8400 for information.
