City officials in Walker, Mich., approved a cost recovery ordinance intended to reduce the number of false fire alarms, according to a newspaper report.
Security companies will be billed if they fail to notify the Walker Fire Department before they test alarms in commercial and industrial buildings and apartment complexes.
Eight to 10 false alarms annually are triggered because security companies failed to notify the department, Fire Chief Bill Schmidt told the Grand Rapids Press.
Only alarm companies, not building owners, will be charged $1,000 or more for failing to notify the department, Schmidt said. The fee is based on three fire trucks responding to an alarm. Some false alarms could cost companies more if additional equipment and personnel were sent out, according to the newspaper.
“It’s not a fine,” Schmidt said. “It has nothing to do with punitive action. It’s simply if we have to go out, we’ll charge you for it.”
