The charges are aimed at recovering some of the costs of the Fire Service response given, and should not be considered a fine. They are also to act as an incentive to reduce false alarms simply by the incurred costs.
The majority of these calls are generated by automatic fire alarm systems and it is the management of these types of unwanted false alarms that the New Zealand Fire Service promotes. See the Hazardous Substance (Minimum Degrees of Hazard) Regulations 2001 and the Hazardous Substance (Classification) Regulations 2001. Typically these are not pyrotechnics that are retailed to the general public for purpose of celebrating the Guy Fawkes night on the 5th November. However the onus is on you to verify the pyrotechnic so ask your retailer for information. The most common causes of false alarms are fire alarm faults, working environment, contractors or malicious. Yes. There is no interpretation in the regulations on what constitutes a display. Entertainment of the public includes a private function (e.g. birthday) where the fireworks involve non-retail pyrotechnics. Public could be a sole person or any number thereof. Where a pyrotechnic special effect is used, and its use in not intended for the specific purpose of entertaining the public the Fire Service does not need to provide written agreement. The New Zealand Fire Service attends around 20,529 false alarm calls annually and at some fire stations, false alarms generate from 50 to 70 percent of their callouts. If a charge is disputed then a letter must be sent to the false alarm administrator with details of the dispute. No only those using Class 1 Category G substances. Yes, lack of ventilation extraction and smoke reservoirs in kitchen areas can cause false alarms. Building designers should consider the use of the building to prevent unwanted false alarm activations. The main consequences are that it reduces occupant's reaction to genuine calls, loss in business productivity, fire appliances can't be utilised at genuine emergencies and it clogs the 111 system. Yes, it is compulsory that a parent or caregiver be present throughout the entire intervention. The Fire Service wants to preserve and protect marae and whare tawhito because they are irreplaceable. Caravans and sleepouts are much smaller than houses and may have many electrical appliances in close proximity, significantly increasing the fire danger. Children are a particularly receptive audience. They quickly and easily adapt their behaviour and influence their family. By encouraging children to be fire wise they become conduits of fire safety information into their homes. |