Lanarkshire firefighters respond to thousands of unwanted fire alarm signals

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Firefighters across the West of Scotland responded to more than 14,000 unwanted fire alarm signals last year - the equivalent of around 38 a day.The figure has been revealed as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) gets ready to change the way it responds to unwanted fire alarm signals.From July 1 an alarm activation will require those with fire safety responsibility, known as dutyholders, to investigate the cause of an alarm and only call 999 once a fire has been confirmed.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The change in response will affect all premises and businesses who do not provide sleeping accommodation.

Hospitals, care homes, hotels, student accommodation and domestic dwellings will continue to receive the current level of emergency response.Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Stephen Wright is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Head of Service Delivery for the West of Scotland.He said: “We will continue to work with dutyholders to help them better understand their obligations, but I must stress the importance of having adequate training in place for staff and in ensuring appropriate fire safety provisions are in place within your premises.“By changing our response to these types of incidents, we can potentially free up 64,000 hours every year giving firefighters more time for other