Handling emergencies during Shabbat

It started as an ordinary Friday night for Rochelle Kevelson of Lawrence, who left her house to go out to eat on Shabbat.

When she returned after 10 p.m. and noticed fire trucks approaching her Causeway home, two neighbors came, held her arms and walked Kevelson to her house in what was a moment of disbelief.

Kevelson realized that while she was gone, her home had caught fire and one neighbor, who was a volunteer firefighter, smelled smoke and contacted the department. Yet, since it was Shabbat and Kevelson observes the religious laws of the holiday, she did not bring out her cell phone and was unable to be contacted.

This begs the question: “What obstacles do fire departments face when responding to a fire in a home where the owners observe Shabbat and cannot be reached by phone?”

She explained that most people don’t alert their neighbors every time they leave the house, and it wasn’t her fault that she couldn’t be notified. “What could I have done at that point?” Kevelson asked. “I have a life alarm but it didn’t work because it was burnt.”

Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department Chief John McHugh said that this type of situation is something they have dealt with in the past, but it doesn’t make responding to a fire more difficult.

Inwood Fire Department Chief Anthony Rivelli explained that the job of contacting the homeowner is the police’s responsibility; as the fire department’s job it to respond to the fire, not try to locate someone’s cell phone number. And as far as having enough firefighters on duty during Shabbat that isn’t a problem for Inwood. “We only have three religious members in the department, so maintaining manpower during Shabbat hasn’t been an issue either,” he said.

Chief John Carlo of the Hewlett Fire Department does not recall having any issues regarding responding to fire’s on Shabbat. Carlo noted that many homes in his coverage area have home alarms and said that the alarm company is responsibility for contacting the homeowner.

Rabbi Andrew Warmflash of the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre said that people have different levels of observance and it’s unfair to expect someone to carry a cell phone on Shabbat on the off chance of an emergency. “This is the first time I’ve heard of this kind of situation, not to say that it never happens,” said Warmflash. “Nor do I think a lot could be done to prevent it.”

Kevelson suggests that more assistance should be available for elder residents. “I think that for older people who live alone, they should have some kind of a registry at the departments in case of an emergency,” said Kevelson. “My neighbors and friends have been very helpful throughout all of this.”