Nuisance/False Automatic Alarms

Section 3 - FIRE PREVENTION

PURPOSE:

To reduce the reoccurrence and number of nuisance/false automatic alarm system activations within the City of Maitland and establish procedures for the review of automatic alarm activations, notification of responsible parties for those activations identified as nuisance/false activations and if necessary, assessment and collection of fees associated with nuisance/ false fire alarms.

ADMINISTRATION:

The Fire Marshal shall oversee all automatic fire alarms in the City of Maitland and shall give specific attention to measures that reduce nuisance and false alarm activations.

PROCEDURE:

• Maitland City Code allows for three activations of automatic alarms that are of a false/nuisance definition within a six-month period. The City code defines a false/nuisance alarm as, “The activation of a fire or medical alarm by any means which does not represent the designed condition.” (Sec. 6-65)
• Alarm activations shall be reviewed by the Fire Marshal weekly utilizing the NFIRS AFA Review with Notes program found on the City MatraNet under Fire/Rescue Departments and Divisions.
• After review of the alarm activation data and determination of a nuisance/false alarm activation, written notice of the determination of nuisance/false alarm shall be provided to the property owner/representative via US Mail or E-mail as appropriate.
• The property owner/representative will be directed to provide an explanation of the alarm or details of actions taken to address the cause of the alarm. The explanation or actions taken shall be documented on a response form provided by the department which shall accompany the written notice of nuisance/false alarm activation.
• There will be no fee charged for a first, second or third response to a premise within a six-month period for a nuisance/false fire alarm.

ENFORCEMENT

• For a fourth nuisance/false alarm activation within six months of the third documented alarm, a fee of $400 shall be charged. For all succeeding responses within six months of the last response, a fee of $250 for each response shall be charged.
• When a fourth or subsequent nuisance/false alarm(s) are received, an e-mail or memorandum is prepared by the Fire Marshal and forwarded to the Finance Department requesting that an invoice be sent to the property owner, or property manager with a copy to the property owner.
• The e-mail or memorandum is to include: address of premises in violation, name and address of the property manager and/or owner, dates of incidents being charged for and Fire Incident numbers. The invoice will call for all funds to be remitted to the Maitland Fire Rescue Department, Attention: Fire Marshal, within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt.
• The Finance Department will send an invoice to the property manager and/or owner as outlined above by US mail with the return address being that of the Maitland Fire Rescue Department to the attention of the Fire Marshal.
• When payment is received by the Fire Rescue Department it will be documented, a copy of which shall be placed in the facility address file and the payment will be forwarded to the Finance Department for proper deposit and credits in the MUNIS financial computer program.
• If payment is not received within the 30 day timeframe, a second invoice will be issued by the Finance Department with a remittance date within 15 calendar days from the date of receipt.
• If payment is not received after the second invoice, the code enforcement process shall be initiated by the Fire Marshal. Said notice to the Property Owner of Record shall be as found in the Orange County Property Appraisers web site in accordance with the procedures outlined in Florida Statute 162 and Maitland City Code Chapter 5.3, Code Enforcement.
• A Notice of Violation will be prepared by the Fire Marshal and sent certified mail. A copy of the Notice of Violation will be given to the Code Enforcement Officer.

1. If payment is received within an allotted timeframe, it shall be processed as previously identified.
2. If payment is not received, the violation continues and the Fire Marshal shall refer the case to the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate for a hearing in accordance with the procedures outlined in Florida Statute 162 and Maitland City Code Chapter 5.3, Code Enforcement.