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Local law to stamp out repeat false emergency alarms

Story and Photo by Derek Kirk
Posted 5/18/23

LIBERTY – One common issue many fire departments in the county are facing is the loss of money and manpower to repeat false fire alarms. In an effort to curtail the ongoing issue in the Town of …

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Local law to stamp out repeat false emergency alarms

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LIBERTY – One common issue many fire departments in the county are facing is the loss of money and manpower to repeat false fire alarms. In an effort to curtail the ongoing issue in the Town of Liberty, the Town Board adopted Local Law #1 of 2023, “Alarms.”

This legislation is intended to encourage town residents to ensure their fire alarm systems are up-to-date and working properly. This local law took direct inspiration from the Town of Delaware’s recent answer to the same issue.

The law sets in place a scale of increasing monetary fines, with each false alarm responded to per house raising the dollar amount. The first false alarm offense is a warning, the second and third false alarms are met with a $250 fine, a fourth is $500, and a fifth offense is $1,000.

Town Supervisor Frank DeMayo said he believes the funds that are acquired via these fines will enter into the town’s general fund balance.

“This is not an issue that we are looking to make money on, but rather provide a deterrent and ensure property owners are up-to-date on their alarm systems,” DeMayo said. “We understand some mistakes are made, like when a child pulls a fire alarm or other instances…the issue is when people don’t maintain their alarm systems.”

Councilperson Brian McPhillips raised an interest in the false alarms continuing in commercial buildings, with his own office as an example. He noted that the local law as it was left a vagueness in the writing, and that he did not want a “handshake deal” between businesses and the town.

Town Attorney Ken Klein noted that it is written into the law that the property owners that are responsible for ensuring any and all broken fire alarms are repaired. It was also noted that with the passing of the local law, the Town of Liberty Building Department’s workload is expected to increase due to the necessary enforcement of the law.

The Local Law was later accepted by the Town Board, with Brian McPhillips abstaining from the vote.

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