Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service working to reduce false fire alarm call-outs after data reveals 13,000 false alarms in five years

Firefighters are working hard to reduce the number of false fire alam call-outs after more than 13,000 in Suffolk over the past five years.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said such call-outs could place a strain on money and resources, but described the issues as ‘complicated’.

Data obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Personal Injury Claims UK found the force had attended 13,631 false fire alarms since April 2019.

During this period, there was an average of seven false calls per day, with between 2,300 and 3,000 per year.

The lowest numbers were between 2019 and 2020, with 2,432 alerts.

Between 2020 and 2021, this had risen to 2,529 – increasing despite the lockdowns in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.

For 2022/23, call-outs cimbed again, to 2,972. And 2023/24 saw 3,057 false calls.

A spokesman for SFRS said false alarms were a recognised issue nationally.

According to one study by BRE Group, it could cost about £1 billion per year.

The spokesman said: “SFRS only attends emergency calls but these calls can only be confirmed as a false alarm once the attendance has been made or if a responsible person investigates and reports it back as such before the fire service arrives.

“SFRS recognises the number of emergency calls closed as false alarms are a strain and need to be reduced in a safe and considered way.

“But this is a complicated issue, as false alarms can be from various sources such as people calling for an emergency attendance with good intent to people making malicious calls, or from automatic detection equipment.

“SFRS works hard to reduce all false alarms through education, advice and, when needed, enforcement actions.”

According to SFRS data, 42 per cent of all call outs are false alarms.

The service warned this could divert engines and crews from genuine emergencies, disrupt fire prevention activities and training, lead to high costs and place unnecessary risk to the public and firefighters.

If a false alarm happens on a business premises, it could lead to a loss of trade, reduced confidence and extra costs.

A spokesman for Personal Injury Claims UK said common causes of faulty fire alarms included poorly designed equipment, poorly trained users, lack of maintenance, fumes from cooking, steam from showers, dust and aerosols.

The SFRS spokesman added: “It is important to highlight that most incidents closed as false alarms attended by SFRS are in residential care homes, supported living and private residential settings.

“This time is not wasted, as in many instances a serious fire can be prevented when intervention is given for repeat false alarms.”