Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) will implement a new approach to its response to Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) calls, effective from July 1.

This strategic initiative aims to optimise resource allocation, reduce unnecessary disruptions, and enhance overall efficiency in our emergency response.

AFAs are designed to detect the presence of smoke or flames and alert individuals to potential fire hazards. However, statistics show that the majority of signals from these systems are indeed false alarms, often triggered by (but not limited to) cooking fumes, dust, or inadequate maintenance.

In light of this, from July 1, MAWWFRS will no longer respond to AFA calls, except in specific circumstances including residential premises, nursing and care homes, and premises subject to fire safety prohibition or enforcement notices.

Head of Corporate Risk and Area Manager, Peter Greenslade said: “As a Service we attend in excess of 2,000 alarm actuations in commercial buildings every year with over 99% of these calls being false alarms.

“It is important that commercial premises take ownership of false fire alarms within their premises as is their legislative duty.

“We will of course always respond to 999 calls when people have identified that there is a fire,” he continued.