Devon and england/south-west/england/south-west/somerset/”>somerset/”>Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is cracking down on false alarms. From 4 November 2025, fire crews won’t rush to automatic fire alarms at many buildings unless there’s clear evidence of fire. The move comes after almost 58,000 automatic fire alarms in five years, with just 1.7% being real emergencies.
Fire Service Slashes False Alarm Responses
Responding to heaps of false alarms has overloaded fire crews and taken them away from genuine emergencies. After a public and staff consultation earlier this year, the service mapped out a new plan:
- Industrial & Commercial: No response to automatic fire alarms unless there’s confirmed fire, 24/7.
- Retail & Public Spaces: Same as above, with extra cover for schools outside term time.
- Residential Buildings: Gradual phase-in of no automatic attendance during daytime – unless signs of fire.
Some residential sites get special treatment:
- Care homes, houses of multiple occupations, and sheltered accommodation are exempted.
- Prisons, boarding schools, and hospitals will phase into restrictions.
Automatic alarms at domestic homes will still get a full fire Crewcrew response every time.
Chief Fire Officer Explains Tough New Rules
“Thanks to everyone who took part in the consultation. Your input shaped our approach,” said Chief Fire Officer Gavin Ellis. “This will free crews to focus on real fires and prevention, not wasted trips to false alarms.
“We’ll still rush to any confirmed fire or alarms in domestic homes where people sleep at night.”
Big Savings and Benefits for the Community
- Annual savings of nearly £180,000 for the service
- More time for firefighters to train and support prevention
- Fewer road risks with less emergency driving
- Lower fuel use and carbon emissions
Business owners must ensure their fire warning systems are reliable, as the service will now require confirmed signs of fire before attending many automatic alarms.
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