The Sylvan Lake Fire Department (SLFD) is asking the community for help in reducing false alarms.
The fire department says that fire alarm systems accounted for 50 per cent of all responses in 2024. That's an increase of 75 alarm incidents from 2023. The department responded to 296 alarm incidents in 2023 and 371 in 2024.
"While some of these alarms turned out to be false, they still put unnecessary strain on the community and emergency services. It's time for us to take action and reduce the occurrence of false alarms," stated SLFD in a Facebook post. "We urge everyone to take the time to understand their security systems and ensure that the settings are appropriate for their homes or businesses. By doing so, we can prevent false alarms and minimize the risks associated with them."
SLFD says responding to false alarms not only diverts emergency personnel from genuine emergencies but also puts the public at risk.
"The fire department must treat every alarm call as genuine and prioritize their response, regardless of the nature of the incident. This means that valuable time and resources are diverted from where they are truly needed."
Residents and business owners are encouraged to consult their security system provider to ensure that settings are properly calibrated and designed to avoid unnecessary alarms.
For more information on how to prevent false alarms, visit www.sylvanlake.ca/fire.
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