London Fire Brigade ditches daytime fire alarm call-outs for non-residential buildings
Big shift in fire brigade’s response policy
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has scrapped automatic daytime attendance to fire alarms in most non-residential buildings. From today (October 29), if an alarm sounds in offices or industrial sites between 7am and 8:30pm, firefighters won’t automatically turn up unless someone reports an actual fire.
Focus on fighting real fires and prevention
This daring new policy aims to free up resources for vital fire prevention work and essential training. It keeps emergency responses alive for residential buildings, schools, hospitals, care homes, heritage sites, and places where people sleep, like hotels and prisons.
False alarms clogging up the brigade
Assistant Commissioner Craig Carter explained the move follows extensive talks with communities and stakeholders. “We will always respond to emergencies and alarms at premises where people sleep,” he said. The brigade is bogged down by false alarms, which make up 40% of calls, yet less than 1% are real fires. Most false alarms come from faulty alarms, poor maintenance, dust, or steam.
Brigade backs smarter use of resources
The LFB believes this change will sharpen its focus on genuine emergencies and slash unnecessary deployments. The new response hours run from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., marking a new era in London’s fight against fire false alarms.
