COUNCILLORS will be discussing measures to cut back on the number of false alarms to the fire brigade.
Members of North Yorkshire County Council are concerned about the rise in the number of Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) calls that North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service attend.
The fire brigade receive more than three thousand AFA calls every year. The number of individual premises, including education and retail premises, making these calls is on the increase.
In 2001 the number of AFA calls attended was 3,527 at a total and this involved attending a total of 1,291 premises.
This is a considerable rise from the number of premises in 2000, which stood at 1,093 from a total of 3,120 AFA calls.
This year there has already been a nine per cent increase in the number of AFA calls attended by the brigade in the seven months between January and August, compared with the 2001 figures.
Members of the council want to reverse the trend and see a decrease in the number of false alarms attended by the brigade each year.
Incentives to reduce them are being explored.
On a local level, one scheme proposed would be for the officer-in-charge of the brigade to speak to keyholders and prevent repeated false alarms.
On a national level, the British Standards for fire alarm systems is under review and due to be issued this month.
Councillors will discuss all measures in the meeting on Monday.
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