Welcome to "The DC Blog Post" #1

Hi everyone. My name is Josh Bottone. I am the Deputy Chief of the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association. I have lived in Woodstock 52 of my 53 years of being alive. I have been a volunteer firefighter for 35 years. It is an honor and my pleasure to serve our wonderful town.

Recently, we launched our new website here at Woodstock Fire. Our website includes many things, one of which is a blog section, to help better reach out to our community. I am calling my blog post “The DC Blog Post”. My first ever blog post (please go easy on me LOL) addresses an issue I see throughout town regarding house numbers. Please take a moment to read and understand some of the challenges that first responders come across while responding to emergencies in town.

Can We Find You When Seconds Count?

I am an early riser. Often, while the rest of the town is still asleep, I find myself driving through our local streets in the quiet of the early morning on my way to Putnam to grab a coffee. It’s a peaceful time to observe our community of Woodstock, but lately, I’ve noticed a concerning trend that keeps me up at night even when I’m already awake.

As I look down our roads, I see beautiful homes, well-kept yards, and long driveways. But what I don't see, far too often, are house numbers.

The Reality of a 911 Call

When you dial 911, you are likely having one of the worst days of your life. Whether it is a medical emergency, a fire, or a police matter, your focus is on the crisis at hand. Our focus, as first responders, is getting to you as fast as humanly possible.

However, we can’t help you if we can’t find you.

In an emergency, seconds are not just time; they are heart muscle, they are brain function, and they are the structure of your home. When we are driving a heavy fire apparatus or an ambulance down a dark road at 3:00 AM, scanning for an address, slowing down to squint at a mailbox, or having to turn around because we missed the driveway, those precious seconds are ticking away.

The "End of the Driveway" Rule

Many homeowners have numbers on their front doors. While that is helpful, it is often not enough, especially if your house sits back from the road or if it is pitch black outside.

To ensure we can find you immediately, we need your house numbers to be located at the end of your driveway.

The Standards for Safety

It isn't just about having numbers; it is about having effective numbers. Based on what we see from the cab of a fire truck, here are some suggestions of what your home needs:

1. Visibility from Both Directions: We don't always come from the same direction. Often, there are times when mutual aid is responding as well. Your numbers need to be visible whether we are approaching from the north or the south (or east/west). If your mailbox only has numbers on one side, we might miss you.

2. Size Matters: Numbers should be at least 3 inches tall. Small, decorative script might look nice, but bold, block-style numbers are what catch our headlights.

3. Reflective is Non-Negotiable: Emergencies don't strictly happen during daylight hours. Your numbers must be reflective so they "pop" when our headlights hit them at night or in stormy weather.

My Challenge to You

The next time you pull into your driveway, pretend you are a first responder who has never been to your home before.

• Can you see your address clearly from the street?

• Is it visible at night?

• Are the bushes overgrown and blocking the view?

• Is snow blocking the view of your numbers?

If the answer is "no" or "maybe," please take the time this weekend to fix it. Hardware stores carry inexpensive, reflective numbers that can be applied in minutes.

Help us help you. Make sure that when seconds count, we know exactly where to go.

Stay safe & Happy Holidays

Josh “DC”