of the British Broadcasting Corporation
Tuesday,
30 September, 2003, 16:36 GMT 17:36 UK
False alarms cut by flea collars
The dog flea collars have deterred the mating
insects and cut call-outs
|
The unusual pilot scheme involved 20 dog flea collars being fitted to fire alarms in a variety of premises, including National Trust properties, in an attempt to prevent false alarms.
Shropshire firefighters decided to adopt the technique in an attempt to reduce the 40 call-outs they attributed to thunder flies, also known as thrips, last year.
Buildings included Dudmaston Hall, near Bridgnorth, where thrips caused five false alarms in two days.
The insects, whose Latin name is Limothrips Cerealium, had been flying inside the National Trust property and making their nests inside its fire detectors, triggering them off.
It was hoped the chemicals on the collars would deter the six-legged intruders.
Flea collars
Louise Caldicott, from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the trial, which began in May and lasted throughout the summer months, had proved successful.
She said: "We have still been called out for thrips incidents but not to the detectors wearing the flea collars.
"The National Trust are very pleased with the results, as are we.
"False alarms cost between £300 and £500 a time.
"We believe the number of thrips call-outs this summer has reduced from around 40 to 20."
She added that the fire service was now collating data from the trial and would circulate the results to fire brigades across the country.
