False fire alarms are on the rise in Queenstown, and it is causing concern.
Fire risk management officer Stuart Ide, from the New Zealand Fire Service in Queenstown, said: "The number was dropping away last year, but this year we have seen a rise in false alarms again.
"Out of around 360 fire call-outs per year, we are now up to more than 150 false alarms.
"This is a huge proportion for such a small town to cope with."
Many were alarm activations caused by construction workers or tradesmen working at business premises, he said.
As an example, a fire alarm was activated at the ANZ Bank, in Beach St, on Tuesday, when a building contractor used a gas torch close to the smoke detector.
Such alarm calls could easily be avoided.
"All it takes is for the contractor or property owner to contact the alarm provider who tends to their fire alarms.
"They are usually more than happy to isolate or deactivate the smoke detector close to the work site temporarily, and turn it back on as soon as the work is done.
"It saves everyone the hassle of a fire callout," Mr Ide said.
The callout could be expensive, as a property owner can be charged $1125 for a false alarm.
Fire Service area manager Keith McIntosh, of Queenstown, said: "We try to work with the property owners to mitigate the risk of false alarms.
"But after the second false alarm within 12 months, we will usually start charging for it. It happens regularly."
Both Mr McIntosh and Mr Ide were concerned about the cost to the community.
"We rely on volunteer firefighters.
"Every false alarm takes several volunteers away from their jobs or homes, which causes loss of productivity and disruptions to the employers, who support their staff in helping the community.
"In the end, they carry part of a cost which could be avoided," Mr McIntosh said.
Mr Ide planned to approach contractors and property owners more directly to help them avoid setting off alarms.
