Spokane Municipal Code

Title 17F Construction Standards

Chapter 17F.080 Fire Code

Section 17F.080.330 Reimbursement for Fire Response

1. The Spokane fire department may collect reimbursement for:

1. 1. fire response and extinguishment costs of malicious or illegal fires from the perpetrators of such fires;

1. 2. hazardous materials response and mitigation measures from responsible parties of such incidents;

1. 3. false alarms (initiation of an actual response to facility or residence, including);

1. 1. 1. Unnecessary fire response to unmaintained fire protection systems;

1. 1. 2. Negligently or accidentally activated signals.

1. 1. 3. Signals which are the result of faulty, malfunctioning or improperly installed, secured or maintained equipment.

1. 1. 4. Signals which are the result of improperly installed, secured or maintained windows or doors or similar general areas of the building.

1. 1. 5. Signals or calls which are purposely activated to summon the Fire Department in non-emergency situations.

1. 1. 6. Signals being activated by persons working on the alarm system without prior notice to the Police Department and/or Fire Department,

1. 1. 7. If fire response is in progress and is cancelled, the response may be considered a false alarm.

1. 4. fire response to and extinguishment costs of a violation of the fireworks code.

1. 5. Special event costs for standby crews or ped-med when they are provided.

2. Nuisance alarms that occur more than 3 times in any four weeks may be subject to response apparatus reimbursement costs and an additional $500 per nuisance alarm depending on the circumstance or investigation findings related to the nuisance alarm. Reimbursement costs can be waived if the dollars are spent on repairs to prevent nuisance alarms.

3. Reimbursement will include, in addition to any cost of equipment damaged or destroyed, the current charge for emergency response apparatus involved in the response, as published by the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs and the hourly rate for personnel, including wages and benefits.

 

Date Passed: Monday, June 16, 2025

Effective Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025

ORD C36695 Section 7