Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 3, 2003

Metrorail customers to hear fire alarm tests during Fire Prevention and Awareness Month

Beginning this Sunday, October 5, and continuing until Saturday, October 11, customers are encouraged to pay close attention to the systemwide announcements that will be broadcast in Metrorail stations. For the fifth consecutive year, as part of Metro’s Fire Prevention and Awareness Month, Metro will air a public service announcement aimed at familiarizing riders with Metro’s automatic fire alarm system. The announcements will then be followed by the actual fire alarm tone. Customers will hear the following message: "May I have your attention please, this is Metro Central Control. To provide public awareness and to promote safety during Fire Prevention Week, you will hear a fire alarm tone. In the event of an actual emergency, we ask that you walk quickly to the nearest exit. This is only a test." Following this address, a pulsing tone will begin for approximately 10-15 seconds. The announcement will then conclude, "This completes the test of the fire alarm tone. Thank you for your cooperation and have a safe day.""Almost 650,000 passenger trips are made on Metrorail each weekday and our customers need to know what evacuation procedures are in place if a real fire emergency occurred," stated Fred Goodine, Metro’s Assistant General Manager for System Safety and Risk Protection. "This outreach effort serves to heighten public awareness by promoting fire safety."Customers can expect to hear these announcements in the Metrorail system on an hourly basis over the next week.

News release issued on October 3, 2003.