The City of Montreal wants to start fining building owners for repeat false fire alarms.
Fines would range from $200 for a second offence for a homeowner to [color="red"]$2,700 for apartment building owners. The second offence would have to occur within 12 months of the first false alarm.
Fire crews are sent out on more than 15,000 calls every year, and as many as 30 per cent are false alarms, said Claude Dauphin, executive committee member in charge of public safety.
Montreal's fire department says false alarms are dangerous for the public and firefighters.
"When you have fire engines racing down the street, there's always the possibility of an accident," said Aimé Charette, the fire department's chief of operations.
The city has proposed a bylaw to enforce the fines. It could take effect Dec. 1, 2008, if approved by Montreal's city council.
Financial incentives for building owners who want to update their fire alarm systems will be available, Dauphin said. |