Hoax fire call-outs costing €3.2m per year

HOAX phone calls to the fire service are costing up to €3.2 million each year and putting hundreds of lives at risk, it was claimed yesterday.

According to figures from the Fire Services Bulletin, from 2001-2005, 16,192 hoax calls were made to the fire service, an average of 3,238 calls per year.

It has been estimated that every call-out costs approximately €1,000 and as well as the financial cost, the hoax calls endanger lives by diverting emergency services from those in genuine need.