STOW — Fire Chief Joe Landry and Acting Chief of Police Michael Sallese wish to remind residents and business owners to properly display street numbers on their property to help ensure a timely response in case of an emergency.
“Every second counts in an emergency, so it’s critical that every property in town has its address prominently displayed so our crews can find them without delay,” Chief Landry said.
“When first responders are called to a home or business in an emergency situation, they need to be sure they are in the right place right away, and following these guidelines will help ensure a timely response,” Acting Chief Sallese added.
The Stow Police and Fire Departments would like to share the following recommendations regarding the proper display of house numbers:
- All houses, businesses and other buildings should clearly display street identification numbers, which should be visible and legible from the street in order to assist in emergency response efforts.
- In the event that a house, business or principal building is not visible from the street, the number should be displayed on a post or mailbox in a way that is visible from the street.
- The numbers should be at least 3 inches tall.
In order to make street numbers more easily visible, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services recommends the following:
- Place numbers under lighting and with a contrasting background so they will be visible at night.
- If your driveway is long, post your house number on both sides of a mailbox or sign pole at the end of the driveway near the road.
- Be sure to trim trees and bushes that could be blocking street numbers.
Residents who have questions or concerns about the visibility of house or business street numbers should contact the Stow Fire Department at 978-897-4537 or the Stow Police Department at 978-897-4545.
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