Response to Automatic Fire Alarms

Section 2 - EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

PURPOSE:

To establish guidelines for units responding to buildings with Automatic Fire Alarm Systems.

PROCEDURE:

• A single suppression unit shall respond non-emergency, in full PPE, when dispatched to an automatic fire alarm. This applies to all automatic fire alarm responses whether in the City of Maitland or surrounding jurisdictions.
• The unit shall locate the proper building or buildings, or any part of the building involved by means of the fire alarm control panel (FACP) and inform the other arriving units of the status of the system. The system may be silenced if no immediate indication of fire or life safety exists.
• The unit will then begin a search of the building or buildings, perform rescue and evacuation, control fire or, if there is no apparent problem, try to determine why the system activated.
• After completion of the above, the building maintenance personnel should place the alarm system back in operation. Fire crews should not reset or place any fire alarm system back in service. (**Crews may reset systems located in buildings owned and operated by the City of Maitland)
• Notify the owner, manager or other personnel (responder) acting in the above capacity of the actions taken by the fire department, what was found and whether the system is in operating condition, or what part of the system is not operating.
• The name of the building representative shall be documented in the fire incident report when available.
• Anytime the owner, manager, or other personnel (responder) is not available to respond to the scene within one hour, notify dispatch of the alarm status, and notify the Fire Marshal and Battalion Chief.
• City Code - 6-16 (c) All commercial facilities, including multi-family residential, shall provide emergency contact person(s) who will be responsible for their assigned building(s) after normal operating hours. Contact information about the individual responsible for 'after hours' emergencies may be provided through record at the Fire Alarm Supervising Station facility monitoring the subject building's fire alarm system, may be posted at a location acceptable to the Property Owner/Manager and the Department or may be provided to the Department in writing for inclusion in the Emergency Contacts data base. The contact person shall arrive at the facility within one (1) hour of notification by the Department.
• Do not, for any reason, make any derogatory remarks of inadequacy of the alarm system, or the maintenance of the organization. All alarm systems are inspected for Code compliance.
• Alarm systems are mandated by Code in many occupancies and should not be taken out-of-service by Fire Department personnel. As an absolute last resort, the building representative may take a system out-of-service. The building representative’s name shall be documented in the fire incident report. The Fire Marshal shall be notified as soon as possible of any problems with any alarm system.
• In situations when easy access is not available to the structure, fire personnel should use any and all means necessary to determine if a fire actually exist within the building. This would include utilization of KEY BOX access keys, raising ladders to upper floors, viewing through windows, use of thermal imaging devices, etc If the officer in –charge is satisfied that no hazard exists within the structure, despite the inability to gain full access, the scene may be released and the alarm regarded as false after attempts or successful notification of a building representative are made.
• If on the other hand, it cannot be determined from an exterior examination of the building that a problem exists, the officer in charge should decide if forced access is required. If forced access is required, care should be taken to reduce the amount of damage.
• A building representative should be contacted to respond to the scene to assist with gaining access. If no one is available and the OIC is not satisfied that the building is safe, forced entry will be permitted. Maitland Police must be notified in cases when forcible entry is necessary.
• The OIC should use all means available to determine the nature of the alarm and its validity before the release of the scene.