Wednesday 19 March
12.00hrs
The number of
automatic false alarms attended by firefighters has fallen by more
than a half compared with last year, thanks to the efforts of Avon
Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) and local organisations.
Automatic fire
alarm systems triggered 3,292 call outs for the fire service
between September 2006 and March 2007, but for the same period
between 2007 and 2008, this number dropped to 1,461. As a result,
Avon’s streets have seen around 2,000 fewer unnecessary blue light
movements – reducing the risk to road users and AF&RS’s
firefighters.
This dramatic
56% drop is the result of a policy introduced by AF&RS in
September last year to tackle the issue of unwanted fire signals –
automatic fire alarms (AFAs) set off as the result of a variety of
innocuous causes ranging from cooking steam to builder’s dust.
With 96% of the
6,528 calls generated by fire alarm systems in 2006 turning out to
be false, AF&RS encouraged businesses to help drive down the
number of calls. On receiving an alert from an AFA, 999 Fire
Control operators now ask a responsible member of staff (such as a
fire marshal or trained staff member) to confirm a few basic signs
of fire before mobilising appliances to the scene.
Domestic
properties, sheltered housing and residential care homes with AFAs
are not affected by the scheme and appliances continue to be
mobilised if a 999 call is received.
With fire alarm
systems also causing disruption to the working day in terms of
staff having to evacuate their offices every time an alarm is
triggered, organisations have been keen to work with the service to
reduce call outs.
On learning of a
false callout from a fire alarm system, the Unwanted Fire Signals
team will make contact with the organisation involved to offer
advice and support in managing the problem.
Watch Manager
Steve Noble, who is part of the team responsible for reducing
unwanted fire signals, is delighted with the results.
He said: “We
have seen a significant reduction in the number of calls to
premises, both as a result of the work of our Control operators and
through the support of local organisations.
“Our work with
many of the more frequently attended premises is certainly
beginning to pay off. A reduction in this type of false alarm will
mean life is not put at risk at genuine fires or rescues, by our
services being unnecessarily diverted elsewhere.
“There is no
doubt that working fire alarms save lives – in buildings where
there are many people living or working and many rooms where fires
can start, they can provide a vital early warning that something
might be wrong.
“However, as we
know, they are sensitive devices which from time to time can be
accidentally triggered. The aim of our work with local
organisations is to discover the source of the problem and find
solutions.”
One of the organisations that has worked with AF&RS to reduce
its automatic false alarm call outs is the University of Bath. The
University has seen its false alarm call outs drop by 87% from 23
between Sept 06 – Mar 07 to just three between Sept 07 – Mar
08.
Professor George Lunt, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, from the University
of Bath, said:
“We recognise the
problem caused by unwanted alarms and have been working closely
with Avon Fire & Rescue Service to cut the number of callouts
to University premises.
“Last year we
improved ventilation in kitchens, introduced modern technology in
detection systems and ran a campaign to raise student awareness of
the issue.
“These have all
contributed to the reduction in unwanted alarms on University
premises.
“Towards the end
of 2007 we also introduced a new management regime that, during
working hours, requires an immediate investigation by University
staff before a call to the emergency services is made.
“We anticipate
that the new system will result in the callouts being further
reduced during 2008.”