County Fire Service Will Now Charge for False Alarms

San Mateo County Fire Services will begin charging a fee to the owner of a property if they respond to a false fire alarm.

This week, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution calling for a $177.53 false alarm fee based on the cost of the County Fire reponse.

Other fire agencies in the area already have a false alarm fee in place. The Coastside Fire Protection District charges $172.85. Menlo Park Fire charges $570.00.

Responding to false fire alarms requires significant County Fire time, according to the resolution. In 2010, County Fire responded to 109 fire alarms, 34 of which were false.  The majority of the false alarms, 24, were responses by the Pescadero Station.

Fees will only be imposed on the third and any subsequent responses to a unique false alarm every calendar year.  There are also exemptions for false alarms coming from a newly-installed system that is less than 45 days old, for false alarms during a declared disaster, and for false alarms during an area-wide power interruption outside the owner's control.