Firefighters want you to know that police aren’t the only ones dealing with unnecessary calls.
As the OPP keep outlining the right times to dial 9-1-1 fire services want to remind the public that false fire alarms have a similar impact. Chief Fire Prevention Officer Brent Norton says all fire calls are treated as emergencies because every second counts and they don’t know if they’re needed or not until they arrive. Pulling a fire alarm when there isn’t a fire can take fire personnel away from real emergencies.
Under the Criminal Code anyone found guilty of wilfully informing people of a non-existent fire, by any means, can be sentenced to up to two years in prison. Some tips for preventing false alarms include; notifying your alarm company before testing or repairing the system, knowing how to cancel a false alarm and regular maintenance of your fire alarm system.
Norton adds that it is the responsibility of the landlord to keep hardwired fire alarms up to date in multi-person residences like condominiums or apartment complexes.