California Firefighters Decry Use of Illegal and Dangerous Alarm Feature

In an attempt to 'take a bite out of crime', some business owners in California have recently turned to an illegal and highly dangerous method of stymieing burglaries and robberies.

Referred to as "Security Fog Intruder Protection Systems", these seemingly benign installations are seeing an upswing in The Golden State, where they have long been prohibited by law.

NOTE: This video was placed on-line by an overseas firm.
Such systems may be allowed or unregulated outside California.
Designed to fill an entire room - or even warehouse within seconds, with a thick floor-to-ceiling zero-visibility cloud that lingers (some vendors say for 25 minutes or more), the concerns of firefighters remain on safe egress and false alarms, the latter of which occurred this week in Los Angeles.

Responding with lights and sirens through crowded city streets, Los Angeles Fire Department crews discovered "heavy smoke" emanating from a commercial building. After forcibly entering the business and cutting holes in the roof to allow the massive smoke and anticipated heat to escape, the veteran team of firefighters discovered the source of their false alarm to be a security fog intruder protection system clearly prohibited by local municipal regulations and California Fire Code Section 316.4:

316.4 Security Devices. Any security device or system that emits any medium that could obscure a means of egress in any building, structure or premise shall be prohibited.

We encourage business and homeowners to employ only reputable and licensed alarm firms that know and obey the many lifesaving regulations of Fire and Life Safety Codes. Before any contract is signed, be certain to obtain an affirmation that any and all features of your business or home alarm system are compliant with local, regional, State and Provincial law.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department