Agenda item

The report and presentation provided an overview of the current policy relating to fire engine attendance at False Alarms caused by Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) actuations and the high proportion of these which were subsequently categorised as Unwanted Fire Signals (UWFS). 

Members noted that the March 2021 Performance Committee meeting considered the implications of the current policy and the resultant performance, endorsing two options for change which were presented for full Fire Authority consideration.  The two options were framed around i) non?attendance to non-sleeping risk premises; and ii) the development of a new policy relating specifically to domestic false alarms (which were growing at pace due to increased use of Telecare in Social Care provision for the most vulnerable).

It was noted that a third option, ‘charging for attendance at UWFS’, was considered by Performance Committee but discounted as ineffective due to the disproportionate financial impact on other Public Sector organisations and the failure of the policy to address the underlying need to reduce unnecessary mobilisations.

The proposals would bring Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) into greater alignment with other North West services and with sector direction of travel.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Steve Healey highlighted that false alarm mobilisations consistently accounted for approximately 50% of all LFRS attendances, compared to 42% nationally.  This disparity was noted by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in their last inspection.  It was reasonable therefore to expect further scrutiny in this area during the next round of HMICFRS inspections later in 2021.  He advised that the latest national statistics for Automatic Fire Alarm actuations per 100,000 population showed South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was at the top of the list with 27 mobilisations per 100,000 population with Lancashire second with 26 mobilisations.  Other North West FRS were: Greater Manchester 14, Cheshire 10 and Cumbria 9 per 100,000 population which demonstrated Lancashire was the worst when compared with other local FRS.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer provided a presentation setting out: i) the impact of UWFS on the Service and the communities of Lancashire; ii) the national guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council to assist Fire and Rescue services to reduce risks created by UWFS; iii) details of the advice provided and enforcement powers used to secure compliance; iv) false alarm incidents during October – December 2020; v) UWFS demand as a proportion of overall incident activity over 10 years up to 2019/20; vi) national performance; vii) Lancashire performance by premises type; viii) breakdown by occupancy type over 10 years; ix) impact of domestic alarms; x) observations from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services; xi) details of the improvement option to remove attendance to automatic fire alarms as non-sleeping premises; xii) benefits of alignment to other North West Fire and Rescue Services and xiii) details of the improvement option to introduce a domestic false alarm policy.

It was noted that the percentage of false alarm calls would increase if the 1,500 – 1,600 mobilisations per annum to support North West Ambulance Service were excluded from the overall mobilisation figures.

In response to a question raised by Councillor J Rigby, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that North West Fire Control did call challenge on our behalf.  He reassured Members that the Service would always mobilise where there was potential occupancy / life risk and where a 999 call had been received.

In response to a question raised by Councillor Williams regarding additional activity the Service could provide to improve the effectiveness of the apparatus which caused the majority of the false alarm calls, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the Service worked very closely with businesses and was now ready for frontline crews to begin to inspect low risk buildings.  In addition, there were many occasions where the Service enforced legislation which was the subject of a report later on the agenda.

In addition, in response to a comment from County Councillor Woollam regarding public responsibility for ensuring their equipment was in good working order, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the Service did carry out inspections and there were British Standards that needed to be achieved.  Where a breach was identified the Service had the ability to enforce activity which in turn aimed to reduced mobilisations to false alarm calls.

In response to a question raised by County Councillor Hennessy regarding the consultation process, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that public consultation would be through the Community Risk Management Plan later in the year; this would be discussed in detail with Members at the forthcoming Strategy Group meeting.

In response to a question raised by Councillor Hugo, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer confirmed that the introduction of any new Domestic False Alarm Policy would involve collaboration with partners across Lancashire which included the 2 unitary authorities. 

In response to a question raised by County Councillor Mein regarding the number of calls considered as false alarms that proved to be a life risk, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer confirmed that the percentage of these calls was between 1% and 2%.  He advised that in any revised policy, the Authority could exempt certain buildings for example, to ensure mobilisations to hospitals.

RESOLVED: that the Authority:

i)   Endorsed for public consultation a recommendation made by the Performance Committee at its meeting held 17 March 2021 (45/19 refers) to remove attendance to Automatic Fire Alarms at Non-Sleeping premises staged over 2 years; to be introduced during the day in year 1 and during the night from year 2;

ii) Endorsed for public consultation the development of a new policy relating specifically to domestic false alarms.