False Alarm Responses

Monitored alarm systems

If your property has a monitored alarm system, or you’re thinking of installing one, the Fire Department would like you to know the following:

• An alarm system can sound for something as simple as burnt toast, and alert the Fire Department to investigate.
• Please consult with your alarm system vendor and/or the monitoring company to learn how your alarm system works, so you can prevent surprise visits from the Fire Department.

False alarm calls

In 2018, the Fire Department was dispatched to approximately 120 false alarm calls — that’s one every three days! If the Fire Department responds to repeated false alarms at your property within a 12 month period, you will receive a notice and you may be invoiced for the response.

It is the property owner’s responsibility to:

• Know the false alarm procedures of the monitoring company
• Alert the monitoring company immediately of a false alarm to cancel the response

If you’re unsure if it’s a false alarm, it may be a real emergency. Stay calm and the Fire Department will arrive shortly.

For more information on false alarms, please review the Fire Service Bylaw.