False Alarms Now Come with a Cost: City Enforces New Bylaw - AI Generated Image
Property owners in Thompson are being put on notice: if your security system cries “wolf” too many times, it’s going to cost you.
As of January 1, 2026, the City of Thompson has officially begun enforcing its False Alarm By-law, a measure designed to stop emergency resources from being wasted on non-events.
How It Works: Education First: The City is taking a “strike one” approach. Property owners whose systems trigger a false alarm for the first time will not be fined immediately; instead, they will receive educational materials on how to manage their systems properly.
However, the grace period ends there. Any subsequent false alarms occurring within a 12-month period will result in the owner being assessed a “cost recovery fee”.
Why the Crackdown? The initiative aims to protect public safety. As noted in the City’s campaign, false alarms tie up emergency services, potentially delaying firefighters’ response to actual, life-threatening emergencies.
Warning for Contractors: There are stricter rules for service technicians. If a false alarm is triggered during construction, testing, or maintenance because a technician failed to notify the fire department in advance, a fee will be charged immediately.
To avoid this, technicians must call the Thompson Fire & Emergency Services dispatcher at 204-677-7916 before starting any work that could trip the system.
Emma specializes in municipal politics, community development, and the social issues shaping Thompson. She is dedicated to transparent, balanced reporting that keeps the community informed.
Contact her at emma@thethompsonnews.ca.
