The end is coming to free false alarm responses in North Battleford.
Starting Oct. 1, new false alarm incident rates come into effect in the city.
The schedule is as follows: first false alarm $200, second false alarm within a consecutive 12-month period $500 and third or subsequent false alarm within a consecutive 12-month period $750 per occurrence.
The City has established the new fee structure in order to reduce the number of false alarm responses, as well as the costs.
Guidelines have been developed, according to the City, which addresses “preventable false alarms,” which refers to activation of a fire alarm system by the unnecessary or needless release of smoke, heat, dust or other airborne particulate, and shall include activation by deficient or defective system components (ie. unattended pot on stove, burnt toast and so on).
Also addressed are “unwarranted false alarms,” which is activation of a fire alarm system by avoidable actions of a building owner, their agent, contractor, tenant, employee or any other person legally permitted to enter or occupy the building. (Ie. testing and inspecting fire protection systems.)
The City points to an annual increase in false alarms over the last five years as prompting the need for the issue to be addressed.
“It is time to address the issue to reduce this additional expense to our citizens, “ said Director of Protective Services and Fire Chief Albert Headrick in a statement.
