The Summit Hill Fire Department has reactivated a device which many communities have eliminated: a fire siren.

The “fire whistle,” as old timers referred to it, had been out of service for about 10 years.

Martin’s Electric Service made the repairs to the siren and it has been installed behind the front entrance tower of the Hilltop Community Center, which is adjacent to the fire company.

Kevin Steber, president of the fire company, responded when asked why it was brought back, “partial nostalgia.”

“Personally, I believe in the fire alarm for alerting the community,” he said.

He said the alarm could be used for other emergencies in the community if any arose.

At one time, the loud blaring of a siren or horn alerted volunteer firefighters if a fire call was received. Dispatching has shifted to cellphones and pagers through central dispatch centers.

“We’re still dispatched by pagers and cellphone apps,” said Steber.

Originally in Summit Hill, there was a bullhorn type mechanism that would blare when there was a fire call. Steber recalls that setup, saying it was before modern paging devices existed.

“If someone was cutting grass, they would hear the bullhorn and rush to the fire station,” he said.

He noted that the bullhorn had specific sounds for each type of fire. For example, if it was a dwelling fire, there might be seven loud blasts, a break and then four more blasts. A brush fire would have a different sequence.

There also were call boxes on utility poles at various places in the town. Tamaqua had a similar setup at the time.

In Summit Hill, the bullhorn was replaced when the call boxes were taken down. Steber isn’t sure when this occurred, but the bullhorns were gone when he joined the fire department in 1991.

Steber said the new siren was installed when the present firehouse was constructed in 2009. He said it would have been impractical to use the old bullhorn because a large compressor and air tank are needed for it to function.

It had been initially used for several years before mechanical issues forced the fire company to quit using it.

Among the other local municipalities which still sound a community fire siren besides Summit Hill are Tamaqua, Coaldale, Mahoning Township, Lehighton and Palmerton.

In other Summit Hill Fire Department business:

Steber said the fire company is preparing for its annual fund drive.

The fire company is also planning a dedication program on Oct. 4 for two trucks.