10.9.24 – WKRG -GULF SHORES, Ala.
People in Gulf Shores could start seeing big fines for false fire alarm calls and faulty elevators causing entrapment rescues.
Hundreds of these types of calls tie up Gulf Shores first responders every year, delaying their response times to real and sometimes critical emergencies.
“These calls can take up to an hour for them to clear off the scene,” Gulf Shores Fire Rescue Chief of Staff Melvin Shepard said. “During that time, if we get a call for a cardiac arrest or someone in distress in that area, we have to send trucks from other parts of the city down there to respond to those calls.”
Since the beginning of 2024, the GSFR has already responded to more than 300 false fire alarms and around 120 elevator entrapments. Shepard said the amount of these calls continues to increase every year.
“Again, that’s time that we’re there that they can be responding to other calls,” Shepard said.
He told us that an isolated false emergency call isn’t the direct issue; instead, it’s the repeat offenders who make frequent calls of this nature. In the span of two months over the summer, the GSFR responded to 13 calls to the same address for an elevator entrapment rescue.
The proposed solution is a recommendation to fine locations for excessive false emergency calls.
“We’re not trying to penalize people. We just want the owners of these buildings to make sure that the equipment is maintained properly,” Shepard said.
If approved by the council, locations would get three warnings before an initial fine of $500. After that, each incident would be a hefty fine of $1,000.
“It’s not to make money, it’s just to try and prevent these calls from happening,” Shepard said.
The city council originally planned to vote on the issue and decide whether or not to adopt the proposal during the next council meeting on Monday evening; however, they decided to pull it from the agenda for further discussion.