The Danger of False Alarms

Published: 3/6/2025

At One Vision Housing, your safety is our main priority. We ensure this by installing fire alarms and other vital anti-fire measures in all our blocks to keep you as safe as possible. However, we’ve recently had several false alarms, often caused by smoking/vaping. It’s crucial we all understand why this is a serious issue.

A false alarm, also known as an Unwanted Fire Signal (UwFS), is when a fire alarm goes off for any reason other than an actual fire. Tragically, there have been cases where people have died, mistakenly thinking a real fire was ‘just another false alarm’. We don’t want that to happen to you or your loved ones!

These unnecessary alarms can cause serious issues, such as:

Unnecessary evacuations – Being rushed out of your home for no reason causes worry and disruption for everyone.
Complacency – If alarms go off frequently for no real fire, people may start to ignore them. This could be fatal during a genuine emergency.
Strain on Emergency Services – Every time the fire service responds to a false alarm, it takes them away from real emergencies where lives could be at stake.

Unfortunately, the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has been called out to One Vision Housing customers’ homes far too often in both 2024 and 2025 because of false alarms. These call-outs put a strain on our essential services. That’s why the Fire Service is now charging for attending unwanted fire signals, and individuals who repeatedly fail to address the issue could also face charges.

We investigate all false alarms. If someone is found responsible for causing them, they could face serious tenancy enforcement action, potentially leading to eviction, and even a criminal investigation culminating in prosecution. We all need to take fire safety seriously.

What causes false alarms?

False alarms aren’t caused by actual fires, but by other factors such as:

Cigarette/vape smoke
Aerosol sprays (like deodorants or hairspray)
Light smoke from cooking (e.g from burnt toast)
Issues with the fire alarm system itself

How can you help reduce false alarms?

Taking simple steps can make a huge difference in cutting down these unnecessary call-outs:

Don’t smoke inside your property. Be very careful when cooking or using aerosol sprays indoors.
Never tamper with your fire alarm system. Make sure it’s always properly maintained.
Tell us straight away if you’ve had a false alarm or have any concerns about your fire alarm system.

By proactively identifying and reporting any issues, and by avoiding the common causes of false alarms, we can significantly reduce these Unwanted Fire Signals. This ensures your fire alarms are ready to detect real fires when it truly matters most.

Had a false alarm or an issue with your alarm?

Your fire safety is incredibly important to us! We want to ensure your Fire Alarms are working correctly to keep you and your family safe. If you are having any issues or concerns with your Fire Alarms, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0300 365 1111 or email on enquiries@ovh.org.uk.

For alternative guidance, visit Fire Safety or Merseyside Fire and Resue Service.