Abbotsford, B.C., wants to get back the hundreds of thousands of dollars it spends each year responding to false alarms. (fire-engine-photos.com)

The city of Abbotsford, B.C., says it needs to start recouping the costs of responding to false fire alarms and will start charging for them in the new year.

Mike Helmer, the deputy fire chief in Abbotsford, said false alarms cost the city $300,000 in 2008.

"The cost to the city to respond with an engine and four firefighters is approximately $300 per false alarm," Helmer said.

When the false alarm bylaw comes into effect Jan. 1, the city will be prepared to fine repeat offenders up to $1,200.

Helmer said businesses are the culprits behind the false alarms, since many don't service their alarms regularly, causing them to go off unnecessarily.

"We want to make this an education process, so they understand what a false alarm is, the impact to the city and how it affects each citizen," Helmer said.

"When we're at a false alarm, we're not able to respond to [real] emergencies in a timely manner."

Helmer said fines will be lower for residential homes and higher for businesses and apartment buildings.

If an alarm goes off because it has sensed smoke, but no real fire develops, no one will be charged.