CATASAUQUA, Pa. — After a pair of close calls, fire Catasauqua borough officials are reminding residents to call 911 — not their local firehouse — in the event of an emergency.
According to a statement Thursday from borough Fire Marshal Raymond Anthony, Catasauqua’s fire department received two calls in the past five days reporting fires to the station’s direct line.
“Catasauqua’s fire department is volunteer. As with many other local jurisdictions, the station may not be manned 24 hours a day.”Catasauqua Fire Marshal Raymond Anthony
In one instance on Feb. 17, a member of the fire department was fortunately around to answer the phone.
On Feb. 21, a resident left a voicemail message for the fire chief indicating only that an apartment was on fire, with no additional information.
The person called 911 after not receiving a response to their message, according to Anthony.
Calling first responders directly meant they were slower to get to the scene in both cases, according to the release.
Neither fire resulted in injuries, the release said.
“Catasauqua’s fire department is volunteer,” Anthony wrote. “As with many other local jurisdictions, the station may not be manned 24 hours a day.”
