Changes to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s response to Automatic Fire Alarms

Automatic fire alarms (AFAs) help protect buildings and their occupants, by providing early detection and warning of a possible fire, enabling people to safely evacuate the building.  

Every year we attend around 2,500 incidents where an AFA has activated, 9 out of 10 of these turn out to be false alarms. Responding to false alarms ties-up our resources and diverts our crews away from important prevention (community fire safety) work and other key activities.  

In 2015 we made some initial changes that have already reduced the number of false alarms we attend. From 1 April 2023 we will be introducing a further series of changes that were approved in September 2022, by the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner following a public consultation on the Service’s Risk and Resource Model.  

How will we respond to AFAs from 1 April 2023: 

• We will not attend automatic fire alarms between 7am and 7pm at premises where people do not sleep – unless a fire has been confirmed (we will continue to attend AFAs at these premises outside of these hours).

• We will attend AFAs at certain high-risk premises between 7am and 7pm this will be based on service intelligence about that building. 

• We will continue to attend all AFAs at premises where people sleep. 

• We will continue to attend all AFAs at domestic properties. 

• We will continue to attend all incidents where a fire has been confirmed. 
  

Group Manager Pete Gregory said: “I am confident that this new approach will reduce the number of false alarms we attend, meaning fire engines will be available more of the time to deal with genuine emergencies and to carry out risk reduction work.

“I want to offer reassurance that the changes do not apply to domestic properties or premises where people sleep such as residential homes, hotels, and hospitals.  I also want to stress that we will attend all incidents where a fire has been confirmed.  

“Under fire safety legislation (Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) businesses have responsibility for ensuring adequate fire safety measures are in place, including maintaining fire alarm systems, which if poorly maintained, can be responsible for false alarms.

“We will continue to work with the business community giving advice and support, there’s also information on our website about reducing false alarms. Our Business Fire Safety team can be contacted at Capabilities@northyorksfire.gov.uk or via our switchboard 01609 780150.”