STATter 911: Help me solve the mystery of it. Can someone explain the siren that sounded this morning in the 7 Corners area of Fairfax County, Virginia?

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Help me solve the mystery of it. Can someone explain the siren that sounded this morning in the 7 Corners area of Fairfax County, Virginia?

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I have lived in the Seven Corners area of Fairfax County, Virginia, just outside the City of Falls Church, for about ten years. For only the second time since moving here I have heard a loud siren sounding in this area. I have no clue what it is about. For that matter, neither do officials in Fairfax County or the neighboring jurisdictions they contacted following my inquiries (Falls Church and Arlington).

I am told by a county government source that the firefighters at Station 28, on Sleepy Hollow Road at Seven Corners, did not hear the siren this morning. They also didn't hear it the last time. I am also told there was no sudden rush of calls from citizens to 911 looking for answers.

I believe it was September of 2006 when I last heard the siren. There was a meet the teachers event a few days before school started at Sleepy Hollow Elementary. A woman rushed into the lobby as I was leaving. She was quite distressed, wanting to know what the "air raid" siren was about. After walking out and hearing it I also wanted to know.

I checked numerous spots around the area, including the fire station, Congressional School and Lake Barcroft, looking for a siren mounted somewhere. No luck.

I also made numerous calls to Fairfax County officials looking for answers. They had no idea what I was talking about and probably concluded I was just nuts.

Now I have the proof (about the siren and not my sanity). If you have any answers, please leave a comment or write me at dstatter@wusa9.com.

# posted by Dave Statter @ 11:33 AM

Comments:

Dave, I know as a child growing up in Fairfax county that there were several "air raid" sirens mounted on poles at schools around the county. They usually tested these sirens at the beginning of the school year and at the end of the school year. This might explain why you heard it in September and then again the other day. Although I have not heard of them testing them in the last several years it definitely could be a possibility.

# posted by

Anonymous : June 20, 2009 12:44 PM

Perhaps it was Jerry Engle's car just passing through??? Or more likely an old civil defense siren or fire whistle, I know occascionaly the one at my old vol. firehosue would go off if we keyed up a radio too close to the building, (like before pulling out & off the apron all the way) someone may have just been going by and keyed up a mic and set it off..might explain the randomness of it, but it obviously still has electricity run to it for it to activate...

# posted by

Anonymous : June 20, 2009 1:34 PM

Well it is a newer electronic style "air raid" siren as the wind down abruptly stops. Look for the large yellow type siren with directional cone.

# posted by

Anonymous : June 20, 2009 3:42 PM

Definately a Civil Defense siren!All the old VFD's used to have them. Maybe station 18 or 10?

# posted by

Anonymous : June 20, 2009 5:04 PM

When I worked in the 4th Battalion we would occasionally handle malfunctioning air-raid sirens that were mounted on county school property.

# posted by

Mike Ward : June 20, 2009 5:56 PM

Could it be a siren connected to a homeowners burglar/fire alarm system? Someone could be testing the system.

# posted by

Anonymous : June 20, 2009 6:57 PM

It is probably a golf course siren, when in bad weather, the course will sound it to close the course. There are multiple siren's on a golf course......if you live near a golf course.

# posted by

Anonymous : June 20, 2009 7:04 PM

It is an electronic siren, NOT a mechanical pole or roof top mounted siren from the civil defense days. Do you live near a university that may be testing a campus warning system?

# posted by

Anonymous : June 20, 2009 7:37 PM

Firegeezer blog topic early warning system? Perhaps a story was near that the 'geezer guys were covering?

# posted by

Legeros : June 20, 2009 7:41 PM

I believe this to be coming from Congressional school alert. There was a test today. I know someone that was there training today and they tested it.

# posted by

Anonymous : June 20, 2009 8:11 PM

It sounds like a Tornado siren. At least, that is what they sound like here in Carroll County, Georgia.

# posted by

Anonymous : June 20, 2009 10:58 PM

Thank you all for your input. Some responses to what you have written.

To my knowledge, from previous interviews I have done with emergency managers, all of the old Civil Defense sirens in the Washington area were dismantled a long time ago and sent to the Midwest for tornado warning systems.

The nearest golf course is in Lincolnia and I believe would be too far away for what I heard.

I buy that it could be Congressional and that was my first or second thought both times I have heard the siren. But I was told by Fairfax County officials when it happened in 2006 (or so) that they checked with Congressional. I also drove the campus then looking for a siren, but couldn't find it. I will call them myself on Monday to see of the previous info was wrong. To me, it is the most plausible theory.

I know U of Md and Georgetown now have tornado sirens.

Arlington County has also put up a siren (or sirens) and loudspeaker combination.

Statter

# posted by

Dave Statter : June 21, 2009 12:46 AM

Sorry in advance.....Dave, when the siren was sounding, did you see any black helicopters flying about? Maybe it was a congertional BS alarm coming from DC?......;)

If you ask me, I`d say it`s a golf course weather warning device. Golf, what a waste of grass. That`s only my opinion, but I`m the only one who listens to it anyhow... ;)

# posted by

Ralph : June 21, 2009 6:11 AM

Dave, it sounded just like the ones at VCU here in Richmond that "warn" the students when there might be a full alert to stay indoors, such as what happened at VA Tech.

# posted by

Anonymous : June 21, 2009 8:54 AM

Sounds like a new ring tone to me!

((Not that we know what "ring tones" are in West ByGod))

# posted by

Marc B : June 21, 2009 10:38 AM

WV ringtones usually have banjos........

And aluminum foil beanies keep the black helicopters from finding me.

# posted by

KR : June 21, 2009 6:08 PM

Dave, check with the Lake Barcroft Association...may be a warning siren for the dam at the lake being tested.

# posted by

Anonymous : June 21, 2009 7:21 PM

Might also want to check with plantation pipeline company cause if they have a switch house nearby they could be testing their system/

# posted by

jason : June 21, 2009 8:43 PM

Dave, That sounds like a Whelen outdoor emergency siren. Look for either a pole mounted disc's or large rectangle trumpets. If you hear it that good my guess is it is within one mile of your house.

# posted by

Anonymous : June 21, 2009 9:30 PM

To the Jerry Engle comment guy, where's your fire station? I'd love to come by, key up the radio mic, and set it off !!!

# posted by

Anonymous : June 22, 2009 2:21 PM

Where is Jerry Engle anyhow? He's dropped off the face of the earth. Maybe he's been told to stay off the TV/TWD by his lawyer???

Personally, I'd like to see him back just for the comedy and humor of having him around.

PG Volunteer

# posted by

Anonymous : June 22, 2009 2:23 PM

I also agree that this sounds exactly like a Whelen outdoor warning siren. I would imagine that a local radio shop has a contract to work on Whelen outdoor sirens, maybe they'd know of the customers in their area?

If it's that loud at your house, it has to be close! Those sirens tend to lose their kick after about a mile or so.

# posted by

Mike : June 27, 2009 12:16 AM