2023 Incident Report Analysis - Automatic Fire Alarms for the Indian River VFC

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company responded to 473 emergency incidents during Calendar Year 2023 while serving the communities of Oak Orchard, Riverdale, Long Neck and surrounding vicinities.

Our firefighters and emergency response personnel play a significant role throughout the community providing vital fire and rescue services.  We hear and see these emergency apparatus in our community virtually every day, fire trucks and first responders responding to fire calls.

Many times, those calls turn out to be automatic fire alarms (AFAs) and our region has seen the number of automatic fire alarms increasing and that’s creating an unnecessary risk to the public and first responders.

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company has been sounding the alarm and taking steps to try to reduce these numbers and reduce the risk to the public and first responders.

In our immediate community during Calendar Year 2023, we had 137 automatic fire alarms (AFAs) which accounted for approximately 29% of our incidents during the year.  The breakdown of these 137 AFAs illustrates that 106 alarms (77%) were for residential locations and 31 alarms (23%) for commercial locations.

Twenty-eight (28%) percent of the residential incidents resulted in apparatus being cancelled while responding to the incident location based upon information obtained by the household occupant(s).

So, what can be done to prevent False Automatic Fire Alarms?

Education and Training: Educating building occupants, residents, and users about fire safety protocols, including the proper use of fire alarm systems, can significantly reduce false alarms. Regular review of instructional material should cover how to handle emergencies, proper reporting procedures, and awareness of alarm triggers within the structure. Ensure everyone knows what action to take in the event of an alarm activation.

Be aware and take care: Accidental activation of a fire alarm is one of the most common causes of false alarms. When using devices such as toasters, dryers, kettles, or even hair dryers never leave them unattended. All of these items which are commonly used could have an impact on a fire alarm system, so be aware of your surroundings at all times. Other items such as aerosols, water, vapor, and steam can also impact a fire alarm system. Ensure occupants keep bathroom doors closed, ensure any extractor fans are in working order, and do not leave any running water unattended.

Regular Maintenance: Proper maintenance and inspection of fire alarm systems are crucial to reduce the quantity of false alarms. So, you need to ensure your fire alarm system is tested routinely and serviced in accordance to specifications.

Resolve known faults as quickly as possible: Fire alarm systems develop faults. It's the nature of any electrical system. When you are aware of a fault, repair it quickly.

Choose the right installation and maintenance provider: Fire alarm systems are electrical items that require good care and maintenance. From initial design to installation and maintenance, ensuring you have the correct provider in place who understands your property, understands the requirements of use for the structure and works with you to ensure that your fire alarm system is designed and maintained correctly.

False fire alarms pose a significant concern for businesses and residential property owners and the fire service as well. By understanding the causes and taking time to implement preventive measures, you could minimize false alarms, safeguard property, protect business operations, and enable the fire service to respond efficiently to genuine issues. Some of the steps mentioned above are crucial in reducing false alarms and promoting a safer environment for everyone.