Steubenville, Ohio officials want to update false alarm ordinance
Source IBSRSS
The Steubenville Fire Department is dealing with an increase in false alarm fire calls, according to Fire Chief Terri English.
"They're purposely pulling the alarms and then leaving. We had a business last year that had 28 malicious false alarms," said English.
The Steubenville Safety Committee, along with English, are trying to update their false alarm ordinance from 1989.
The proposed changes would allow them to charge an alarm user an increased fee for false alarms.
For residents, per year, seven to 12 false alarms would cost the user $75 per occurence. Thirteen or more false alarms would cost the user $100 per occurence.
For businesses, per year, seven to 12 false alarms would cost the user $100 per occurence. Thirteen or more would cost the user $200 per occurence.
The safety committee and English both think a solution needs to come soon because of unnecessary costs for the city and a potential delayed response to a real emergency, even by a couple minutes.
"If it's your house or your business on fire, that minute seems like a lifetime while you wait for us," said English.
Copyright 2011 by . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.