Do you have a Have a Fire & Security Alarm Permit? Is Your Alarm Permit Information Up to Date?

The Town of Newbury Alarm Ordinance requires that all residents and businesses that have fire or security alarms that transmit a signal to an alarm company central station have an Alarm Permit from Newbury Police & Newbury Fire Rescue. Central station alarm companies are also required to have a permit from the town. The ordinance states that failure to obtain an alarm permit may result in a fine. Multiple false alarms from a location also results in a fine.

One of the reasons that the ordinance was enacted was to cut down on false alarms and the cost of the firefighters responding to repeated false alarms from a location. Since the permit requirement has been in place, the number of multiple false alarms caused by faulty equipment has been reduced.

Another reason for the permit is for the first responders to have contact information on the property owner. Modern fire alarms also monitor carbon monoxide, low temperature, propane and other hazards.  When a fire alarm is received, Newbury Fire Rescue responds and checks the property for signs of fire or other hazards. If someone is home, the house will be checked for smoke or with meters for other hazards. Smoke or fire in the wall has been found and extinguished when it was not obvious to the occupant.

When there is no one at home, firefighters will check the building from outside for smoke and obvious signs of a fire and then access the building by contacting the resident or key holder. The Alarm Permit database contains the contact information on these people. If there is an obvious fire, the responders will need to force open doors or windows to extinguish the fire. But if nothing is visible, the procedure is to wait for the key holder rather than damage a door or window which could cast the owner several hundred dollars to replace.  There have been many cases where the firefighters have found broken water pipes or furnace problems that would have resulted in considerable damage if they had not been found by the firefighter’s inspection.

If you do not have an alarm permit for your central station alarm, it is easy to obtain and there is no charge. Simply complete the on line application on the Newbury Fire Rescue website www.newburyfd.org  The complete Alarm Ordinance and paper application can be found and downloaded from the Town of Newbury website.

Since the alarm ordinance was enacted a number of years ago, the permit listing has grown substantially and there are currently 266 registered alarms and 27 alarm companies permitted to do business in Newbury. A number of the alarm permits have been in place for many years and have never been updated.  Alarm companies change as well as phone numbers and key holders who have emergency access to your property. There have been many occasions when the emergency contact information is outdated and responders are not able to contact the owner or someone with access to the building. Updating permit information is as simple as accessing the on line Alarm Permit form, checking the “Information Update” box and entering the information.   

If you do not have a local key holder who can provide emergency access, we recommend that a Knox Box secure key safe be installed on your property to provide the fire department with emergency access. Only the fire department is able to open the secure Knox Box.  Information and ordering information is available at KnoxBox.com