The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has announced a significant policy change that will see firefighters no longer attending automatic fire alarms in most non-residential buildings, unless a fire is confirmed by a human caller. This new measure, set to take effect in October, aims to save valuable time for firefighters, as less than one per cent of automatic fire alarms are triggered by actual fires.
The automatic systems in question are those where the fire service is alerted to a potential blaze without anyone having directly called them. The brigade believes that by implementing this change, they will be able to allocate their resources more effectively.
The new policy will apply between 7am and 8.30pm. During these hours, the brigade will only respond to automatic fire alarms in non-residential buildings such as office blocks and industrial estates if a person also reports a fire. Outside these hours, the LFB will continue to attend to all alarms in any building.
Certain premises will be exempt from this new policy, including hospitals, schools, nurseries, care homes, and heritage buildings. For these locations, fire crews will still respond to all automatic fire alarms.
Public Consultation and Support
Deputy Commissioner Charlie Pugsley stated that the decision followed a public consultation last year and emphasized the significant benefits of the new policy. “We are here to keep London’s communities safe, and we want to do this as effectively as possible. We will always attend an emergency and will continue to attend an alarm at any premises where people sleep – such as homes, hotels, and prisons,” he said.
The change will allow firefighters to focus more on preventive measures, such as visiting vulnerable residents and communities, conducting fire safety checks, and participating in operational training.
Impact of False Alarms
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the LFB attended approximately 52,000 false alarms generated by automatic fire alarms. These false alerts are typically caused by steam or dust trapped inside detectors, or by poor design and maintenance of the alarm systems.
A spokesperson for the brigade mentioned that both the National Fire Chiefs Council and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) support efforts to reduce attendance at false alarms.
This policy shift aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the London Fire Brigade, ensuring that its resources are dedicated to genuine emergencies and community safety initiatives.
