A fire alarm is deemed to be false when it is unnecessarily triggered due to the improper installation of a fire alarm system, an operational defect, poor maintenance, mishandling or any other negligence likely to interfere with its operation. The number of false fire alarms in Montréal dropped from 16,612 in 2008 to 5,682 in 2020, a decrease of about 66%, thanks in part to the By-law concerning false fire alarms and other fire prevention regulations.

In order to ensure the safety of citizens in the agglomeration of Montréal, fewer and fewer of whom tend to react to fire alarms, the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal has implemented a by-law intended to:

• reduce the growing number of false fire alarms;
• encourage property owners to maintain their systems;
• maintain and increase the level of vigilance of occupants in a building, who tend not to evacuate the premises due to the number of false fire alarms;
• ensure the availability of staff called upon to respond to emergencies and calls for first responders.