CRANBERRY LAKE -- New home address signs popped up all summer long as the Cranberry Lake Fire and Rescue Department began its community project to give free reflective house numbering signs to every resident in the Cranberry Lake Fire District.

The goal for the first year of a planned three-year project was 50 percent participation.

But Fire Chief Michael Dolan reports that the department received more than 60 percent participation the first year.

The project was in response to concerns that many homes in the community have no visible numbers, numbers that are hard to see at night or are far from the road and difficult to see by fire and rescue personnel as they responded to an emergencies in the middle of the night.

“Seconds can mean the difference between life and death in a medical emergency,” Dolan said. “Our primary mission is to protect life and property, and we can’t do that if we can’t find your home. The new signs are already making a difference,” he said.

In order to eliminate concerns the signs might change the character of the community, they are designed to conform with the Adirondack Park sign specifications of brown signs with reflective yellow numbers.

“In past years we have had several instances where emergency drivers had trouble finding a home,” said Dennis Gellasch, chairman of the project. “With these new signs properly installed, that will no longer be a problem. We’re absolutely thrilled with the response, but we still have a way to go,” Gellasch said.

Applications for the free signs are still available from the Cranberry Lake Fire Department by calling 848-2937 or at the Cranberry Lake Post Office. The project is scheduled to continue for another two years with a final goal of 90 percent participation.

Many Cranberry Lake homes are not accessible by road and those homes are being offered a free sign as well. In the past, homes not accessible by road have not been assigned street numbers. That has changed. Now with cellular telephone service available, numbers have been assigned to properties at the south end of Cranberry Lake and all developed island property.

Cranberry Lake Fire Department is separate from the Cranberry Lake Fire District.

“Not one penny of taxpayer money has been spent on this project,” Chief Dolan said. The firefighters are raising money separately for this project. with events like the chicken barbecue and the ice fishing derby.

In addition to the free signs, Cranberry Lake Fire Department members install the signs at no charge for elderly or disabled residents.

“We want to make sure we can find every home in the community and we don’t want age or disability to be a barrier to participation,” Gellasch said.

The project is estimated to cost over $8,000 when it’s done.

“This is among the most important investments the Department has ever made in our community,” Dolan said.

He said that Community Bank, in particular, deserves thanks for the $500 they donated to the project.