Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service sees over 47,000 false alarms in five years

As reported by Personal Injury Claims UK, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has responded to more than 47,000 false fire alarms over the past five years.

Between April 2019 and 2024, the service dealt with a total of 47,090 false alarms.

The investigation highlighted that these callouts have placed a significant strain on both the service’s finances and resources.

On average, NIFRS has responded to 8,000 to 10,000 false alarms annually, which equates to more than 20 incidents daily.

In 2019/2020, NIFRS recorded 9,172 false fire alarms, the third-highest number during the five-year period.

Although this number dropped slightly to 9,106 in 2021 due to the pandemic-related lockdowns, callouts surged again after restrictions were lifted.

In 2023/24, NIFRS experienced a new peak, responding to 10,347 false alarms.

Causes of false fire alarms identified

Common causes of false fire alarms have been identified as faulty or poorly designed equipment, inadequate user training, and lack of maintenance.

Additionally, everyday occurrences such as fumes from cooking, steam from showers, and dust from construction work can also trigger alarms.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service stated: “Most signals from automatic systems are often false alarms, frequently triggered by cooking fumes, dust, or a lack of maintenance, leading to unnecessary call-outs for our fire crews.”

This data has raised concerns over the increasing burden on emergency services and the potential risk posed by repeated false alarms.

Financial cost of false alarms to Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service

The financial impact of false alarms on the NIFRS has been significant.

According to figures obtained by Personal Injury Claims UK, the cost of responding to these callouts has fluctuated between £1.4 million and £1.8 million annually since 2019.

This financial burden has prompted a policy change by NIFRS regarding how it responds to automatic fire alarms.

The service no longer attends automatic fire alarm callouts at occupied commercial premises unless a fire is confirmed.

This policy aims to reduce unnecessary strain on fire crews and resources.

False fire alarms across the UK

False fire alarms represent the largest share of incidents attended by fire services across the UK, comprising 38% of all callouts.

The issue is not unique to Northern Ireland; according to a study by BRE Group, false fire alarms cost the UK approximately £1 billion annually.

The ongoing trend of false alarms presents risks not only to the safety of individuals but also to the efficiency of emergency services.

As such, there is growing concern about the long-term effects if the current patterns continue unchecked.

False fire alarms in Northern Ireland reveal rising financial strain and resource impact: Summary

An investigation by Personal Injury Claims UK has revealed that the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has responded to over 47,000 false fire alarms between April 2019 and 2024.

These callouts have placed a significant burden on the service, both financially and operationally, with annual costs ranging from £1.4 million to £1.8 million.

NIFRS has introduced a policy change to reduce unnecessary responses to automatic fire alarms in commercial premises.

False alarms continue to be a major issue across the UK, accounting for 38% of all incidents attended and costing an estimated £1 billion annually.