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FOXBORO - The fire department for the past two years has planned for the disconnection and removal of antiquated fire alarm boxes posted on telephone poles and public buildings.

The expected cutover next week of the 911 emergency line to the new public safety building has given those rarely used, bird-house-like alarm boxes one final push into the museum.

The old system officially was abandoned Monday, according to fire officials.

Until all 110 boxes can be removed, the remaining ones will be labelled to indicate they are out of service, said firefighter Merl Cummings, who has supervised the removal.

"The problem is, the system has become antiquated and somewhat unreliable due to deterioration of telegraph lines, equipment, and increased maintenance costs," Deputy Fire Chief Steve Bagley said. The town and the department decided to upgrade the community wide fire alarm notification system to today's technology, known as the wireless radio box system.

The new system involves no overhead telegraph lines and minimal maintenance costs, he said.

For the past two years, local businesses and public buildings were notified that upon completion of the police-fire station on Chestnut Street, the old fire alarm system will be taken out of service.

"History has shown that very few times have actual fires been reported through the use of street boxes," Bagley said.

With today's communication technology, especially cell phones, there is little need for the street boxes, he said.

He stressed that all families and individuals should have a pre-established escape plan and an outside meeting place so that everyone can be safely accounted for in the event of a house fire. The fire department can be called from a neighbor's house or by cell phone.

"There is no need to locate a street box, especially when travel distance is a factor," he said.

Any questions on the new system or discontinuance of the old system can be directed to Bagley or Cummings at 508-543-1230.

Fire Chief Gerry McNamara said the town has used street alarms boxes at least as early as the 1880s and the current Gamewell brand alarms were installed in the late 1920s.

To report a fire or other emergency, people should call 911. Foxboro's 911 system will not be affected by the alarm upgrade. The old alarm boxes are of two types.

Street boxes have a lever which must be pulled to send the alarm by hard wire to the fire station. Many of the boxes are seen on utility poles marked with a three-foot red-and-white banner that reads "emergency."

When the lever is pulled, a "code-wheel" rotates and a numerical code is telegraphed to the fire dispatcher. The code identified the location of the street box.

The master boxes, generally located on or near buildings, are wired to the building's automatic fire alarm. If the automatic fire alarm inside the building is activated, that automatically tripped the master box and sent the location code to the fire station.

Each master box will be removed when property owners get the new, radio-alarm system.

Attleboro, North Attleboro, Norton, and Plainville still have the fire alarm pull boxes on utility poles.

Wrentham, Mansfield, Norfolk, Seekonk, and Rehoboth either never had them or phased them out.