Somerset has both a new fire engine and a new tornado siren reporting for duty.
The weather siren was shown to City Council members Monday afternoon during an open house for the new CityFit fitness center, while the new fire truck made its debut during a budget workshop at the Energy Center.
The siren was mounted to a pole just outside the building, located on South Maple Street.
While the system has yet to be tested, the siren’s infrastructure is in place and is ready to go.
According to Somerset Fire Chief Tyler Jasper and information provided by the siren’s manufacturer, Federal Signal, the new siren should cover a 1.21 mile radius with a tone that is 70 decibels, and a further radius at 60 decibels that would cover almost the entirety of the Somerset area, including the area already serviced by the existing siren on Sallee Street.