The Hopkins Fire Department averages 160 false alarm calls per year. This is over 40% of our total fire calls. More than half of these false alarms are preventable or can be eliminated with proper maintenance of fire alarms.
To ensure the highest degree of safety for the owners and residents of buildings with fire alarm systems, we will be using the following procedures when called to a false alarm:
Water Flow Alarm (sprinklers)
Water flowing - no fire. Assist the owner and occupants as necessary to preserve personal property and the building.
No water flowing - no fire. Notify a representative of the building owner and occupant.
Automatic Fire Alarms (smoke & heat detectors)
We will assist in the removal of smoke and/or resetting the system, reminding the manager that detectors should be covered to protect them while dust is being produced.
In the event of an unknown cause or storm related alarms, we will do everything we can to determine why the fire alarm system activated. If there is no apparent reason for the alarm, the fire department will not attempt to reset the system. We will require the occupant to call a qualified service technician to determine why the fire alarm system activated and to make proper repairs. The service company will be required to complete a report stating why the alarm went off, how the problem was remedied and what things should be done to keep this from happening again.
Until the qualified service technician arrives, the fire department will maintain a fire watch in the affected area. The owner of the property will be required to pay a fee for this service. The fee is $30.00 per hour with a two hour minimum. If authorization to call for service cannot be obtained, a standby firefighter shall be assigned for however long it takes to get a qualified technician on site.
Exception 1:
If the owners representative agrees, the fire department will call a service company that has agreed to respond in less than one hour. If this is the case, the owners representative may provide the fire watch. The owner will be billed by the fire alarm service company.
Exception 2:
If the fire alarm company normally servicing a specific system can guarantee one hour service, the owners representative may provide the fire watch.