The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Flin Flonners have apparently heeded a warning to ensure their home security systems are not needlessly deploying firefighters to the scene. For several months last year, the Flin Flon Fire Dept. responded to several false alarms originating with electronic security systems newly installed in many homes. But Coun. Ken Pawlachuk says the problem disappeared following notices placed in The Reminder by Fire Chief Jim Petrie toward the end of 2012. 'We had quite a few false alarms and the fire chief put some notices in the paper (saying) that if we keep having them, people might have to be (financially) charged for them,' Coun. Pawlachuk said at last week's city council meeting. 'So since then, it must have been a campaign that worked because we haven't had any false alarms due to these alarm systems that people are putting in.' Coun. Pawlachuk spoke on the problem last November, saying each false alarm costs taxpayers about $1,000. Education He called for the public to become educated on how their security systems work. Coun. Pawlachuk said some of the false alarms were occurring even when the occupants were home. 'A lot of times the people are in their house and there will be a false alarm and they don't even know the alarm goes off,' he said, 'because it phones Vancouver and Vancouver phones Brandon _ 911. 911 notifies our police and our fire department to respond.' In other instances the residents are not home, in which case Coun. Pawlachuk said Petrie must enter the home to confirm that it's a fire alarm. With a slogan of 'Life... Without worry!', Reliance Protectron Security Services last year made a push to sell security systems to area residents. Many Reliance signs popped up in Flin Flon yards as a warning to would-be intruders.
