In an emergency, when every second counts, rescuers have to be able to find you. But, you could be inadvertently slowing them down.

"Anytime you're talking safety that's important," says Donna Yakesh.

For the crossing guard safety is her job.

"Saving lives—that's important," Yakesh says.

Which is why she is all for a new city fine in Bloomer. It starts at $25 if you don't have a fire number on your house.

"In the last year and a half to two years that I’ve been here, we've probably sent out 40 to 60 requests for house numbers and very few people have put the numbers on their residences," says Bloomer Police Chief Richard Carr.

The ordinance isn't unique to Bloomer; cities like Eau Claire, Altoona and Chippewa Falls all have them. In Eau Claire, if you don't have a number on your house you could be looking at a fine of $213.

"It will help get emergency services there faster whether it is ambulance, fire, or police officers. We're not looking at fining people; we’re looking at getting them cooperating," Carr says.

It's a fine some see as a no brainer. But, others say it's unwarranted.

"If your house is on fire, wouldn't you want them to find you?"

"I’m always one who's skeptical of being fined by the government just because they come up with some new ordinance.”

The ordinance isn't new to Bloomer, but the chief hopes the fine gives it some teeth.

In Eau Claire, officers say warnings usually do the trick and the inspector's office can't even remember the last time someone had to be fined.