Schools' false alarms cost fire service £200k a year

Published on Wednesday 21 July 2010 16:08

MORE than £220,000 is spent every year on fire crews sent to false alarms in Lothian schools.

Figures released to the Evening News under freedom of information laws showed that between April last year and March this year there were 554 unnecessary call-outs.

The majority of the calls, which work out at three a day during the school year, were caused by children deliberately setting off alarms.

The figures showed that James Young High in Livingston had the most call-outs, with 23 visits from firefighters. Following closely behind with 22 call-outs was Firrhill High in Edinburgh. St Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn had 17 visits for false alarms, and also had one real fire, which was started deliberately.

A spokeswoman for the fire service stressed that not all false alarms were caused by unruly pupils, and could be a result of a faulty system or a smell of burning.

She said: "We receive a number of alarm calls to schools every year for a wide range of reasons.

"If we identify an excessive amount of repeat calls then this is usually addressed with the school management.

"Our community firefighters are engaged in delivering education packages to schools where we talk to young people about the impact of hoax and malicious calls to the service."

On top of the 554 false alarms, fire crews attended 32 actual fires in schools in the Lothians, including 12 which were started deliberately. The figures come following the devastating blaze which ripped through the old Craigroyston High this week, leading to its demolition.

Disused schools such as the old Canal View and Dumbryden primaries in Edinburgh and the derelict primary school on West Main Street, Broxburn, have also been particular targets.

A city council spokesman said: "False alarms arise for a range of reasons and we work with schools and take advice from firefighters to limit them as much as possible.

"However, it is vital that pupils know they can call 999 in an emergency."

A West Lothian Council spokesman said the high number of false alarms could be linked to refurbishment work which was being carried out at schools including St Kentigern's Academy and James Young High.

He added: "We will continue to work with Lothian and Borders Fire Rescue Service to reduce the number of false alarms within our properties, through prevention advice and education."