Fire chief calls on businesses to help reduce false alarms

With over 13,500 calls to automatic fire alarm systems last year in Greater Manchester, Fire Chiefs are appealing to businesses to take responsibility for managing their systems to reduce the number. The problem not only wastes firefighters time to the tune of 7700 hours per year but costs Greater Manchester Fire amp; Rescue Service (GMFRS) annually over £2 million and costs business much more in terms of lost productivity. 

The Service have launched a campaign entitled ‘Your Responsibility’ targeted at businesses across Greater Manchester. This comes after only 9% (1483) of the 13,987 calls to automatic fire alarms last year were fire related.  Of this 9% the majority were things such as burnt toast and kettles being placed too close to detectors. In only 0.5% of cases (60) was firefighting equipment actually used.

The campaign consisting of posters, leaflets and direct mail hopes to educate businesses about three key issues:

• Under the Fire Safety Order 2005 managing fire risk and safety are now a business’ own responsibility.
• The Fire Service will not respond to all automatic fire alarms signals using blue lights and sirens as the risks to road users and firefighters are too great.
• The priority is public safety and therefore if your automatic fire alarm goes off and it is a real emergency, to make a back up 999 call and a full emergency response will be provided. 

Assistant County Fire Officer Steve Beckley said: “I am sure people will be shocked at the huge number of calls to automatic fire alarms we attend. These calls not only take up our time and cost us over £2 million per year but they also cost businesses money and time in terms of lost productivity and disruption. It’s important everyone realises when our crews are tied up with dealing with alarm systems they may be kept from attending a real emergency or undertaking important community safety work such as Home Fire risk Assessments. 

Last year in only 60 out of the 13,987 calls to automatic fire alarm systems did we actually have to use firefighting equipment. We need to reduce the number of calls and hope this campaign will help to do this by educating businesses as to their responsibilities and also informing them that due to the risks involved we won’t always respond to automatic fire alarms using blue lights and sirens.

"Many businesses are unaware of the new legislation, the Fire Safety Order, which came into force in October 2006, our approach is one of supporting them by providing information and if necessary access to one of our highly experienced Fire Safety Officers.”

Angie Robinson, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Chamber, said: "I think everyone will be shocked at the scale of this issue and the amount of time and money wasted dealing with it by businesses and the Fire and Rescue Service across Greater Manchester. It is crucial that organisations understand and take on board their responsibilities under the new Fire Safety Legislation and manage their risks appropriately.

"Greater Manchester Chamber will be working closely with the Service to help them with this campaign and businesses should take advantage of the invaluable support and advice that they, the real experts, are offering. I would urge everyone to play their part in helping the Service address this problem. It is a truly frightening thought that if they are tied up dealing with false alarms they may be kept from dealing with a real emergency where lives need to be saved."