False Alarm: Sirens Blast Through Crystal Lake in Error Early Tuesday

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — The public warning sirens blasting a disruptive wake-up call for Crystal Lake residents early Tuesday morning were activated in error, officials have confirmed.

The city's outdoor public warning sirens sparked confusion when they sounded shortly after 6:40 a.m. Tuesday. But an investigation determined that they were activated in error by a vendor in the regional dispatch center, Southeast Emergency Communications (SEECOM), who was installing new radio consoles, Crystal Lake Police Department representatives said in a written statement.

"During the installation, the vendor experienced a short in a wire," police said. "This short simulated an activation on the system setting the sirens off for the community. Once made aware of the situation, the vendor immediately reversed the issue silencing the system."

SEECOM was working with the vendor Tuesday to prevent further false alarms, police said.

"The vendor, SEECOM, and the city apologize for any inconvenience to our citizens this may have caused," the statement said.

Photo credit: Daniel Schwen via WikiMedia Commons