KEY POINTS:
A rapid rise in false fire call-outs has left fire officials frustrated
to the point of enforcing fines.
False call-outs are up by over 2000 this year, with faulty alarm systems and cooking causing much of the trouble.
As a consequence, the fire department is taking aim at individual and business offenders.
"We were getting inundated with call-outs from people cooking or taking a shower" said Auckland fire safety officer Russell Dickson.
"We don't want to turn out if it's burnt toast or cooking," he said.
Mr Dickson said commercial property owners are the biggest culprits and a lot of the owners are refusing to pay the $1250 fine.
Before 2005, fire alarm systems installed in buildings had to be connected directly to the fire service.
But changes to the building code has made this system optional and dialling 111 is now the primary way to raise the alarm.
"What people are finding out now is that 'I don't need to be connected' and more and more calls are going through 111.
"This means they then fall out of the loop.
"At the moment only connected buildings are being charged. Soon we will have the ability to change that, investigate and charge the individuals or businesses," said Mr Dickson.
Currently private owners are not charged, instead they are educated and encouraged to fix any faults with their smoke alarm.
Commercial property owners have two "free" false alarm call-outs over a 12-month period. Any false call-outs after that begin to cost.
Mr Dickson said talks are underway between the fire service and the Department of Building and Housing to resolve the issue.
"Charging is not a means to make money, it's used as an incentive. It's an incentive for building owners to fix the problem," said Mr Dickson.
Boyd Raines of the Firefighters Union believes people need to take more care where they install their fire alarms.
"Otherwise it's like we're penalising people that put in alarms," said Mr Raines.
"While we go to false alarms we might be needed somewhere else where there is a real fire, but we need to go and find out," he said.
