Our response to Automatic Fire Alarms (AFA’s) is improving.
Tackling the number of false alarms we attend –
Across Shropshire, very few commercial AFA’s end up being recorded as fires.
The proposed improvement outlined below is designed to create a more efficient service delivery aiding Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to prioritise fire safety visits, particularly of the most vulnerable, better engage with our communities and improve operational training.
How we’re changing –
It’s our intention to use data and intelligence to inform our decisions about responding to AFAs between 0800 to 1800. It is understood that during this time, most commercial premises will have staff on site who can confirm if a fire has started.
There are exceptions to this. We’ll continue to respond to –
- Buildings with sleeping quarters (student accommodation, care homes, hospitals, hotels, prisons etc).
- Premises that contain dangerous substances under the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations.
- Other non-domestic buildings of substantial public significance where we consider exemption appropriate through our annual assessment of risk.
- We will always attend when called to a fire by a member of the public and to automatic fire alarms between the hours of 1800 and 0800.
The benefits –
- Significantly improve operational training our firefighters receive.
- Create additional time for fire safety checks in homes and businesses and building premise familiarisation visits (RMS).
- Provide more time to better engage with our communities.
- Bring in line with the majority of services across the country on automatic fire alarm response.
- Reduce the risk to public and firefighters when mobilising to unnecessary calls under “blue light” conditions.
- Availability for crews to respond to actual incidents.
False Alarms – what are they and how can I prevent them? | Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
