Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency will be reinstalling Q-Sirens on their trucks

Sirens on fire engines in Halifax Regional Municipality are about to get louder.

Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency will be reinstalling Q-Sirens on their trucks.

Assistant fire chief Chuck Bezanson said since the department replaced them with electronic sirens a few years ago, cars aren't moving over like they used to.

"We understand nowadays our cars are more soundproof," he told NEWS 95.7's The Sheldon MacLeod Show. "There's a lot more going on in people's lives and the demands for their attention while driving sometimes keep them from hearing these sirens."

"The Q-Siren is just that much different in tone and it's placement tends to move drivers quite a bit, making it safer for the public and our firefighters when we're going on calls."

Bezanson said they were removed a few years ago after lawsuits were launched in the U.S. related to hearing damage.

"We thought it was prudent to remove the sirens when we heard about the lawsuits before we had the time to do our own research," he explained. "Since then we've done our research and think it's safe to put them back on."

All the removed sirens were saved, and the over 40 will be reattached to the same fire engines that used to have them when they go in for their annual maintenance. In addition, all new trucks will be outfitted with Q-Sirens.

Bezanson said sirens are an important tool to get vehicles to move over, allowing them to respond to emergency situations as quickly as possible.

"Anything we're going to with a siren, we're in a rush to get there," he said. "It is something that's critical and somebody's life may hang in the balance."