Automatic Fire Alarms Update

Automatic fire alarms (AFAs) help protect buildings and their occupants, by providing early detection and warning of a possible fire, enabling people to safely evacuate the building.

Every year we attend around 2,500 incidents where an AFA has activated and the majority of these turn out to be false alarms. Responding to false alarms ties-up our resources and diverts our crews away from important prevention (community fire safety) work and other key activities.

A series of changes were approved for introduction in September 2022, by the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner following a public consultation on the Service’s Risk and Resource Model. Those changes can be viewed on our website Automatic Fire Alarm Attendance Information – North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (northyorksfire.gov.uk)

One of the changes now provides NYFRS the ability to start charging where persistent false alarm calls are received within a 12-month period in premises that fall under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Charging will only be considered when engagement with our business fire safety team do not result in any reductions in false alarms from that premises.

We are currently working with our regional fire and rescue service protection leads to look at a standardised charging figure, where engagement activities haven’t led to any improvements.

We will shortly be publishing more information on our website. This will include our charging fee which is based upon the associated costs for the appliances attendance and the accompanying administration.

You can view the decision notice on the Risk and Resource Model consultation on the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners website: DN 16/2022 – Risk and Resource Model – Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner North Yorkshire (northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk)