BTR urged to act after 22,000 false fire alarm callouts

Fire crews in England were dispatched to more than 22,000 false fire alarms in medium and high-rise blocks of flats over the last year, new figures reveal.

The number of incidents rose by 10% compared with the previous year, equating to an average of 61 unnecessary callouts every day.

On more than 2,000 occasions, between seven and nine fire engines were sent to the scene.

Now an analysis of national Fire and Rescue Service data by Drax Technology, shows that most of the false alerts were linked to everyday activities such as cooking, steam, dust, aerosols and smoking.

However, 6,631 cases were caused by faulty, poorly maintained or incorrectly fitted systems, a 17% increase on the previous year.

BTR needs remote alarm management

The firm’s group product director, David Simpson, said: “False alarms don’t just waste emergency service time, they erode trust and create complacency as residents become desensitised to repeated alerts.

“In high-rise Build to Rent communities, remote alarm management is now essential.

“It verifies alarms in real time, minimises disruption, and ensures safety and compliance are never compromised.”

He added: “Smarter fire safety isn’t only about reducing callouts, it builds trust, reassures residents, and demonstrates responsible management.

“As the Build to Rent sector matures, premium rents will demand premium standards, and safety must be at the top of that list.”

Check BTR alarm is real

The company says that remote monitoring functions in BTR buildings enable staff to confirm whether an alarm is genuine.

They can also silence unnecessary alerts and track recurring problems, reducing disruption for tenants.

Across England, fire crews attended 250,226 false fire alarms of all types in the year ending March 2025.

Incidents in medium and high-rise flats accounted for nearly one in 10 of these.

Some fire services apply cost-recovery fees for repeated false alarms in non-domestic premises, charging up to £417 per incident from the fourth occurrence onwards.

Nationally, the overall cost of false fire alarms is estimated at around £1 billion annually.