Please be advised that a new by-law regarding emergency alarm systems has been implemented, effective August 2023.
By-Law No. 5382.
The objectives of this by-law are to:
- Increase the availability of City resources by requiring property owners, tenants, and alarm system providers to be extra diligent with their alarm systems.
- Reduce the number of alarms being falsely activated on a repeated basis causing unnecessary demand on emergency response resources and expense to the city.
Our mission is to educate, not penalize the public. As a result, one false alarm will result in an official warning; fines only begin after a second false alarm in one 12-month time period. Our aim is to ensure emergency services are available to respond to genuine emergencies in Selkirk, rather than tie up emergency resources and expend taxpayer funds responding to unnecessary events.
There are several ways to reduce the likelihood of mistakenly setting of an alarm:
- Be aware of smoke detector placement, avoiding locations with elevated humidity levels, such as inside or near a bathroom.
- Check your smoke detector batteries every six months or whenever you change your clock for Daylight Savings Time.
- Use your kitchen exhaust fan or open a window while cooking to prevent steam from the kitchen from triggering your smoke detector.
- Have your chimney and fireplace professionally cleaned. Over time, buildup of dirt and debris in your fireplace can cause your chimney to send smoke back into your house.
- Ensure everyone in your home and anyone else you trust knows how to arm and disarm your house alarm, and knows what might trigger it.
- Ensure you and your contractors are using proper procedures when conducting home repairs such as sanding drywall.
- Consider contacting your alarm company (if applicable) if the problem persists.
If you have any questions regarding this by-law, please contact CitizenSupport at (204)785-4900 or [email protected].
