If you are servicing, repairing, maintaining or installing a Fire Alarm system, you must notify the Edmonton Fire Drill Line at 780-414-7332 15-30 minutes before you begin any work or testing.
As Edmonton grows, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) is continually evaluating its resources to meet the needs of the community. With the increasing need for services and limited resource growth, EFRS focuses on ensuring the right resources are available while providing value to the community.
EFRS found that approximately 90% of alarm calls that were responded to required no emergency response, and the alarms were considered unwanted alarms. An unwanted alarm means the activation of a Fire Alarm System at any type of property, regardless of how it was caused, resulting in a fire rescue services response where no actual danger or possible danger to the safety, health and welfare of people, property or the environment exists.
Unwanted alarm calls impact Edmonton Fire’s response to actual emergencies and create complacent public behaviour towards potential emergencies. Reducing the number of unwanted alarms will continue to decrease call volumes and focus the frontline fire service on the calls where emergency response makes the most impact.
Submitting an Unwanted Alarm Fee - Waiver Request
Submit your request online within 14 days from the date the City sent the invoice, and provide evidence that supports your submission.
Unwanted Alarm
- No person, including an owner or an alarm business, shall cause, whether directly or indirectly, or permit an Unwanted Alarm.
- No person shall provide false or misleading information about the activation of a Fire Alarm System to a member.
Notification of Work
If you are servicing, repairing, maintaining or installing a Fire Alarm system, you must notify the Edmonton Fire Drill Line at 780-414-7332 15-30 minutes before you begin any work or testing.
- Where an alarm business is responsible for the Fire Alarm System, the owner must notify the business. The alarm business must notify the City directly through the Fire Drill Line at 780-414-7332.
How To Prevent Unwanted Alarms
The City encourages Edmontonians to take an active role in preventing these alarm calls.
Visit Preventing Unwanted Alarms for more information.
Fees
“Unwanted Alarm Fee” means the amount determined by the City Manager payable for the fire rescue services response to an Unwanted Alarm.
Upon a second or any subsequent occurrence of an Unwanted Alarm during any consecutive 12-month period, the City Manager may provide the owner with an invoice setting out the Unwanted Alarm Fee owing and directions for payment.
| Residential | Non Residential | |
|---|---|---|
| First response at the same premises during any consecutive 12 month period. | no charge | no charge |
| Second response at the same premises during any consecutive 12 month period. | $117 | $451 |
| Third response at the same premises during any consecutive 12 month period. | $576 | $897.50 |
| Fourth and each subsequent response at the same premises during any consecutive 12 month period. | $1,147 | $1,792.50 |
How much are the fees associated with security alarms?
| Residential | Non-Residential |
|---|---|
| $1,147 | $1,792.50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit Preventing Unwanted Alarms to find out ways to reduce unwanted alarms.
An unwanted alarm means the activation of a Fire Alarm System to any type of property, regardless of how caused, as a result of which a fire rescue services response is provided where no actual danger or possible danger to the safety, health and welfare of people, property or the environment exists
Malicious Alarm: An unwanted activation of an alarm-initiating device caused by a person acting with malice.
Nuisance Alarm: An unwanted activation of a signalling system or an alarm-initiating device in response to a stimulus or condition that is not the result of a potentially hazardous condition
Unintentional Alarm: An unwanted activation of an alarm-initiating device caused by a person acting without malice.
Unknown Alarm: An unwanted activation of an alarm-initiating device or system output function where the cause has not been identified.
A Fire Alarm System means any mechanical or electrical device which is designed or used for the detection and alert of heat, smoke or fire.
A security alarm means an alarm system intended to detect unauthorized entry to a premises or to alert people to the commission of an unlawful act, or both.
Payment instructions will be provided on the invoice received.
Ensure those in care and control of the property understand the roles and responsibilities surrounding unwanted alarms and how to prevent them.
An Edmonton Fire response occurs when a fire alarm system is activated. There may be times when a property has its alarm system programmed to activate a fire response and police response when an intrusion alarm occurs (for example break and enter). Alarm system users should discuss responses with their monitoring companies and ensure Edmonton Fire Rescue is not dispatched for an intrusion or glass break alarm.
Submit an Unwanted Alarm Fine Waiver Request online within 14 days of receiving the invoice, and provide evidence that supports your submission. A review will be conducted and a response provided within 60 days of the date the City has received the evidence.
Anyone who intends to undertake or allow the undertaking of any service to:
- Test
- Repair
- Conduct maintenance
- Make adjustments
- System alterations or
- Installations
Must notify the City prior to the service being performed, directly through the Fire Drill Line at 780-414-7332.
Contact Us
Fire Drill Line
Phone 780-414-7332