MFB responds to 260 false alarms triggered by bushfire smoke in 18 hours

Firefighters have been called to 260 alarms triggered by bushfire smoke blanketing Melbourne, with one region copping 95 of the call outs. The MFB is now urging building managers to review their air handling systems.

Firefighters in Melbourne’s central region have copped the brunt of hundreds of false alarms triggered by bushfire smoke blanketing the city.

Air quality across the state’s capital was rated hazardous on Tuesday morning which has wreaked havoc on automatic alarm systems.

In the 18 hours between 10pm on Monday and 4.30pm on Tuesday MFB crews were called to more than 260 false alarms and fire indicator panel alarms.

They usually only attend about 10-20 a night.

A smoke haze blanketing the city from Melbourne Park. Picture: AAP/Michael Dodge

Firefighters in the central district – a region bounded by the suburbs of Clifton Hill, Burnley, South Wharf, Port Melbourne, Parkville and Flemington Racecourse – responded to 95 of those calls.

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Southern district crews covering the southeast region as far as Mordialloc and Clayton South received 45 false alarm calls, followed by the northern district with 42 calls.

Firefighters in the east responded to 33 false alarms and the western suburbs received 29.

An MFB spokeswoman said all false alarms were treated seriously.

A runner braving the smoky conditions along the Yarra River. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“There is a risk that any one of these fire alarms may well be a legitimate emergency,” she said.

“MFB treats all fire alarms seriously and is calling on the community to do the same.”

With the smoke set to linger into the weekend, the MFB has called on building managers to review their practices.

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“Due to the current smoke conditions in Melbourne, MFB is calling on building managers to review their air handling systems and where possible, change settings so that air is recycled in the building rather than being drawn from the air outside,” she said.

“Current smoky air quality may trigger the system’s fire indicator panel.”

The thick haze – which led to the city recording the worst air quality in the world earlier this week – has also closed beaches and pools, shutdown construction sites, forced posties to complete their deliveries in masks and led to a spike in ambulance calls for breathing problems.