Automatic fire alarms:

We need your help to change our response to automatic fire alarms.

Why we need to change

Between April 2022 and March 2023 we attended over 37,000 false alarm calls. Nearly half of these were to commercial properties.

This cost the Brigade around £7 million and around 20,000 hours in staffing time.

If we stop going to these false alarms at commercial properties, it will free up our firefighters, allowing them to do more valuable work, such as providing prevention advice, checking the safety of buildings, and engaging with our communities.

What causes false alarms?

False alarms are caused by system failures or human behaviours that set off the alarm accidentally. These include:

• Faulty systems - due to a lack of maintenance, repair or testing
• Improper installation - for example, too close to a shower, which sets off the alarm with steam
• Cooking - for example, burning food
• Manual activation - for example, accidentally or maliciously using a ‘break glass call point’