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Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department
Standard Operating Guidelines
Subject: Automatic Fire Alarms SOG # Ops-05 Initiated 07/26/2024 Approved: Fire Chief Clay Fallis
Purpose
To establish procedures and guidelines for investigating and resolving automatic fire alarms; and to provide related fees for multiple false and/or nuisance alarm responses.
A fire alarm incident can involve one or more of the following:
Smoke alarm activation.
Heat detector activation.
Fire detector activation.
Automatic sprinkler system activation such as a water flow alarm.
Manual pull station.
Residential smoke alarm.
Carbon monoxide detector.
Other types of monitored alarms.
Guidelines
In the event of a dispatch to an automatic alarm, the assigned unit(s) will respond under emergency conditions until the Incident Commander reduces the level of response. Based upon the individual situation, the Incident Commander can alter the response on the report of a police officer, security officer, maintenance personnel, etc. Reports from these individuals are to be used for initial size up information by the first arriving fire officer.
In occupied structures, the Incident Commander is to interview the person(s) on scene, preferably speaking to the homeowner, management personnel or someone with knowledge of the alarm system. The first arriving fire personnel are to examine the on-site monitoring station (i.e., annunciator panel, fire control room) before making any determination of the validity of the alarm.
In unoccupied structures, the Incident Commander shall request the status of the key holder. If no key holder is responding, or if response time is greater than 15 minutes, the Incident Commander shall make the determination as to whether forcible entry shall be made using the following criteria:
Conduct a complete 360-degree view and size-up the property in question, if possible.
Visible signs of fire or other trouble (broken pipes, etc.).
Alarm history.
Other variable factors.
In unoccupied structures where there is no key holder response, forcible entry is to be considered only if the Incident Commander deems necessary. If forcible entry is required, the Incident Commander will request local law enforcement to respond to the scene.
After it has been determined that the alarm is invalid, the Incident Commander shall consult with the local law enforcement to determine if a citation is warranted.
In the case of persistent nuisance alarms, a Chief Officer (If not on scene already) is to be notified to determine if the occupant, homeowner, or business is to be charged the alarm fee for the response.
In the case of persistent nuisance alarms, the Incident Commander may instruct the Communication Center to dispatch the alarm as an investigation for a period not to exceed 12 hours.
Definitions
False fire alarm – The activation of any fire alarm system not caused by heat, smoke or fire and results in a response by the fire department.
Nuisance fire alarm – The activation of any fire alarm system caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, lack of proper maintenance or for any other undetermined cause of activation resulting in a response by the fire department.
False/Nuisance Alarm Fee Schedule
The Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department has the following fee schedule for persistent false and/or nuisance fire alarms that occur within a 12-month period that begins on January 1st and ends on December 31st of each year.
Number of Alarms Fee Charged
1 to 3 No Fee
4 to 6 $50 per false/nuisance alarm
7 or more $100 per false/nuisance alarm
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