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Toronto Leaders Challenge Fire Department's False Alarm Crackdown
The Toronto Star
Two city councillors are vowing to extinguish the fire department's crackdown on false alarms as residents unplug their security systems for fear of hefty fines.
Gloria Lindsay Luby said she'll table a motion early in the New Year that would restore a previous rule allowing residents one false alarm per year without being fined. In February, councillors approved a zero-tolerance approach without being told by fire officials that single-family homes would be hit the same as highrises or that the routine dispatching of three trucks would turn a $350-per-vehicle fine into a $1,050 bill, she said.
"Homeowners are finding the fines so punitive they are cutting off the fire part of their alarm system, which is dangerous," said Lindsay Luby (Ward 4, Etobicoke Centre). "It's a danger to the homeowner and the surrounding properties." Two constituents, David Wunker and Art Ludlum, contacted her to say they can't afford to risk another malfunction.
"Every homeowner in Toronto should think seriously about disconnecting quickly," wrote Ludlum, 86, after his first false alarm in 16 years of owning a system. Wunker called the fines "a money-making exercise, a tax, not cost-recovery," and said he'll quit his alarm contract if the company can't assure him it won't report any activation to the fire department.
Councillor Peter Milczyn went to bat for homeowner Andrew Cole but says he got only a "convoluted response" from the fire department. Cole pulled the plug on his alarm system. Milczyn (Ward 5, Etobicoke-Lakeshore) said: "I'm not sure what we'll do with multi-unit residential, but at the first real council meeting you'll see a notice (to amend the bylaw to give homeowners a break)."
In an interview Wednesday, Fire Chief Jim Stewart defended the bylaw, saying too many fire crews are tied up by thousands of "nuisance" and "malicious" false alarms a year. Fines are being waived for those who offer evidence that something other than malfunction caused the failure.
"If council wants to make a change, that's their right ... we certainly don't want this to be punitive," Stewart said.
Going back to letting property owners have one false alarm without penalty would, however, put a hole in the fire department budget. The department is projecting $6.5 million in annual revenue from false alarm fines. More than $900,000 of that comes from city-owned Toronto Community Housing Corp., which operates many highrises.
The bylaw does allow a partial refund of a fine for property owners who get their systems upgraded within a year of a false alarm.
Ina Dorfman, who lives near Steeles Ave. and Leslie St., got repeated notices to pay a fine stemming from a false alarm last spring but is still waiting for a promised $289 rebate for replacing her alarm system about a month later.
"They want your money but look how long it's taking me to get my $300," said Dorfman. Her son called the city in August and was told to expect the cheque around December.
Copyright 2010 Toronto Star Newspapers Limited
November 29, 2010
"Every homeowner in Toronto should think seriously about disconnecting quickly," wrote Ludlum, 86, after his first false alarm in 16 years of owning a system. Wunker called the fines "a money-making exercise, a tax, not cost-recovery," and said he'll quit his alarm contract if the company can't assure him it won't report any activation to the fire department.
Councillor Peter Milczyn went to bat for homeowner Andrew Cole but says he got only a "convoluted response" from the fire department. Cole pulled the plug on his alarm system. Milczyn (Ward 5, Etobicoke-Lakeshore) said: "I'm not sure what we'll do with multi-unit residential, but at the first real council meeting you'll see a notice (to amend the bylaw to give homeowners a break)."
In an interview Wednesday, Fire Chief Jim Stewart defended the bylaw, saying too many fire crews are tied up by thousands of "nuisance" and "malicious" false alarms a year. Fines are being waived for those who offer evidence that something other than malfunction caused the failure.
"If council wants to make a change, that's their right ... we certainly don't want this to be punitive," Stewart said.
Going back to letting property owners have one false alarm without penalty would, however, put a hole in the fire department budget. The department is projecting $6.5 million in annual revenue from false alarm fines. More than $900,000 of that comes from city-owned Toronto Community Housing Corp., which operates many highrises.
The bylaw does allow a partial refund of a fine for property owners who get their systems upgraded within a year of a false alarm.
Ina Dorfman, who lives near Steeles Ave. and Leslie St., got repeated notices to pay a fine stemming from a false alarm last spring but is still waiting for a promised $289 rebate for replacing her alarm system about a month later.
"They want your money but look how long it's taking me to get my $300," said Dorfman. Her son called the city in August and was told to expect the cheque around December.
Copyright 2010 Toronto Star Newspapers Limited
November 29, 2010
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on
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So what's next, fining a homeowner who calls the fire department because he smells smoke, only to have the department respond and discover that it's from a neighbor burning leaves?
Homeowners with alarms should be allowed a certain amount of false alarms. Around here, I think they get charged after 3 false alarms in a 12 month period.
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