Background
Our data shows that 97% of the automatic fire alarm (AFA) notifications we receive, and attend, end up being false alarms. This equated to almost 6,500 false alarms that we attended in 2023. These alarms can cause unnecessary risks to the public and responding firefighters, cause disruption to the business, and may delay a response to a genuine emergency.
Proposal
We propose that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service will no longer attend automatic fire alarms (AFAs) at low-risk commercial premises during the hours of 08:00 and 18:00hrs, unless there is a confirmed fire. This change would reduce unnecessary disruptions to businesses and ensure we are available for genuine emergencies. Many other UK fire and rescue services have adopted or are considering similar policies.
We will continue:
- Responding to all AFAs outside of business hours (18:00-08:00hrs), and as normal at residential dwellings
- Attending all confirmed fires at any time of the day, when someone calls 999
Additional information
For further information on the proposal, click here.