Fire service cuts back on automatic response in strath
FIREFIGHTERS in Badenoch and Strathspey are scaling down responses to fire alarms activated at B&Bs, factories, offices and hotels because of the number of false call-outs.
Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service (HIFRS) has written to the owners of holiday accommodation and others using the system to inform them that the automatic fire attendance policy is being altered.
The aim of the policy is to ensure that only real emergencies are dealt with.
The new policy means that one fire appliance will attend "high risk" premises such as hospitals, hotels, B&Bs, houses in multiple occupation, care homes and hostels if an automatic fire alarm is activated between 8am and 5pm.
Outwith that time, two appliances will be sent if an automatic alarm is activated.
One appliance will attend "medium risk" premises such as large factories, shopping centres, schools/colleges and single dwellings with a linked alarm system if an automatic fire alarms is activated between 8am and 10pm.
Outwith those hours two appliances will respond to an alarm activation.
In "low risk" premises such as offices, shops outwith shopping centres and small commercial and factory premises one appliance will respond to an automated fire alarm whatever the time.
Fire chiefs have said the move will also have the benefit of reducing the number of unnecessary call-outs.
This means that businesses who provide part-time firefighters know that they are being called out to real emergencies and better use is made of the brigade’s money.
Trevor Johnson, HIFRS chief fire officer, stated in the correspondence that had just gone out: "Over recent years, HIFRS has seen a considerable increase in the number of false alarms generated by automatic fire alarm/detection systems and in 2010/11, calls of this type account for almost 40% of all calls received."
He continued: "Should premises be fitted with an Automatic Fire Alarm/Detection (AFA) system, the implementation of the policy changes the number of fire appliances which will respond to an alarm activation, based upon the risk profile of premises.
"Irrespective of the risk type, should an emergency call by received by the service via the 999 system confirming a fire in support of the AFA, an appropriate emergency response will be mobilised to the premises."
