Attendance at Automatic Fire Alarms Feb 07

   ATTENDANCE AT AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARMS

DATE:             19.02.2007

North Yorkshires Combined Fire Authority today fully approved the latest policy, which will reduce the amount of time North Yorkshire's Fire-fighters spends dealing with false alarms at low risk premises.

The policy was agreed as a follow up to last years Community Safety proposals, after noting that crews attended over 4,100 false alarm calls in which automatic fire alarms are sounded, but there was no fire. Over 97% of these calls are false alarms.

For some of our stations 50% of calls turn out to be false alarms, which is a significant draw on resources. These calls take Fire Crews away from Community Safety work and genuine emergencies.

Whilst responding to these incidents, crews are responding under blue light conditions, which put the crew and public at unnecessary risk.

The latest policy is based on identified ‘good practice' which has been identified as working in other Fire and Rescue Services. The procedure is designed to be fail safe, and is based on an approach that will ensure that public safety is not compromised.

Summary of Policy

• This policy does not apply to domestic properties or premises that provide 24hr care, such as hospitals and residential care homes.

• The policy is not applicable between the hours of 1800 -0800 (Night time hours). Fire Appliances will be sent to all Automatic Fire Alarm calls.

• If the reason for the call cannot be verified, the appropriate number of Fire Appliances will be mobilised without delay.

• Occupiers will not be asked or required to investigate why an alarm has sounded by re entering the building. Information will be gained from the Fire alarm panel, evacuees or nominated Fire Warden.

• The application of this policy will be monitored to ensure appropriate application.

Points of Note

• National Fire Safety legislation places a requirement on a responsible person at designated premises. This person is required, by law to ensure that staff are familiar with all aspects of fire safety. Where appropriate, a nominated Fire Warden should be appointed to carry out a full search of the building on hearing the fire alarm. This is obviously dependant on conditions at the time. This person would be responsible for reporting to the Fire and Rescue Service as part of their duties in the event of a fire.

• Each building will be risk assessed individually. Those identified as ‘High Risk' will receive a full attendance as appropriate.

Chief Fire Officer, Nigel Hutchinson explains: "The Service will work with the business community and only apply this policy to premises that are low risk, during office hours. The procedure will be ‘fail safe' as if there are any doubts, an attendance will be made as normal." He continues "This procedure will not apply to domestic properties or life risk premises such as residential homes, hotels, and hospitals. This will mean that appliances are immediately available more of the time to deal with genuine emergencies. "

"Under new legislation introduced this year, businesses have sole responsibility for ensuring adequate fire safety measures are in place. This includes maintaining fire alarm systems, which if poorly maintained, can be responsible for false alarms. The Fire and Rescue Service continues to work with the business community, providing advice and support in this area."

Nigel Hutchinson concludes: "I am confident that this new policy will reduce the danger of an appliance being out attending a false alarm, when it is needed for a life threatening emergency elsewhere. Fire and Rescue Service Staff carry out vital community safety work when not attending incidents, this time should not be interrupted by attending false alarms."