Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that Group Manager Matt Hamer had been invited to present to Members an overview of unwanted fire signal call management as agreed under the overall activity section of the previous minutes (resolution 9/19 refers).

GM Hamer advised that larger premises with more detectors had greater chances of an unwanted fire signal call.  Lancashire had a procedure where if 2 calls were received within the month or 3 calls in 6 months this was monitored and a Business Safety Advisor would visit the premises to provide guidance as appropriate. (The alarm system might not have been maintained or may be faulty.)  Most businesses were accommodating given plant could shut down during an alarm and evacuation.  It was noted that LFRS could issue a minor notice and if a business was not keen on working with the Service it could enforce however, the majority of businesses in Lancashire were keen to engage and put things in place to prevent any further unwanted fire calls. 

GM Hamer advised of a premises in Penwortham where there had been up to 30 calls within a 12 month period which was a result of having the wrong detectors in the wrong locations.  LFRS had provided advice and an unwanted fire call had not now been received for the last 10 months.  Another example was of a University who used a call receiving centre whereby a detector informed the call centre who would then ring 999; the call would go through call challenge at North West Fire Control to try and identify if there was a fire and if there were people at risk but because the call centre was remote from the building they could not answer the questions and the Service would be deployed to the incident.  On advice of the Service the University had changed its policies and now, should a detector activate their security would investigate; this had seen the numbers of calls drop dramatically.  Some of the larger, older buildings may need investment in new equipment and / or to improve their procedures.  During the monitoring visits to premises the Service stressed the impact of unwanted fire calls for the business, for the Service and also on members of the public.

In response to Member questions, GM Hamer confirmed that there were not any specific geographical areas or business sectors that were the worst offenders.  Business Safety Advisors met regularly to discuss safety education campaigns which included the National Fire Chiefs Council Business Safety Week where the Service supported business to be aware of the help available to ensure they complied with the law and keep people as safe as possible (particularly, preventing arson, reducing false alarms, preventing common causes of business fires and

protecting sleeping accommodation).

County Councillor Hennessy asked whether (as reported under the same resolution) it had been possible for a risk assessment to be undertaken for staff to be inoculated against the flu virus.  It was agreed that the Deputy Chief Fire Officer would investigate and inform the Committee separately.

RESOLVED: - That the Minutes of the last meeting held on 19 September 2019 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.