Four residents have been fined hundreds of dollars as the City of Flin Flon cracks down on home security systems that needlessly summon firefighters.
Fire Chief Jim Petrie says a zero-tolerance policy now exists with regard to false alarms stemming from security systems.
“If I respond to a house and it has a false alarm, [city] council has passed a bylaw that [states] the first offence is $500,” says Petrie.
Petrie says firefighters have no choice but to respond if a security company calls 911, so it is up to homeowners to ensure proper communication with their system provider.
Enforced
The city has long had a bylaw pertaining to false fire alarms, but only in August did it announce the rule would be enforced for incidents stemming from security systems.
Fines are $500 for residential properties and $750 for businesses, though Petrie says all but one false alarm over the years has involved a home.
Most security-system-related false alarms involve homeowners who cannot remember the code that tells the system firefighters aren’t really needed, Petrie said previously.
These false alarms can stem from burning toast, accidents or electrical malfunctions, he said.
Both Petrie and Mayor George Fontaine have stressed that fines will not apply to residents who believe they see signs of fire and call 911, even if it turns out there is no blaze.
