First responders are reminding the public to think twice before triggering a false alarm.
On the night of Feb. 26 a “false malicious” fire alarm at the Winners Home Sense, 98 Warren Ave. E, trigger a large response by first responders.
According to Capt. Wes Swaren of the Penticton Fire Department, the full shift of on-duty staff and one paid-on-call firefighter (seven) with two trucks, responded.
“A person had pulled the alarm and phoned in a false fire alarm,” he explained.
”Crews went in there pretty quick and ascertained that there was no fire and reset the fire alarm and we returned to the station. The call was a fire at the back of the building, commercial occupancy, and that’s always a bigger footprint than a residential structure fire.”
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Officials say while false alarms are not unusual, a corresponding telephone call from a person generally heightens concerns about the legitimacy of the call.
As well, Swaren added that false alarms not only effectively remove crews from responding to a real emergency but there are other serious implications as well including driving at Code 3 (lights and sirens) through the city which can be dangerous.
“It delays us from responding to anything else, mva’s (motor vehicle accidents) elevator rescues, marine rescues. We’re engaged in that incident until we make sure that it’s not an incident,” said Swaren.
Further details will be released as they become available.
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