Fire Department Fees & Charges

• Preventable False Alarm Criteria

  1. Fire alarm activated as the result of failure to maintain the building’s fire alarm and/or sprinkler system in accordance with applicable codes and standards;
  2. Fire alarm activated due to an unknown cause with no fire evident and the Fire Department was unable to access the building to investigate, or the fire alarm system was reset prior to the Fire Department’s arrival;
  3. Fire alarm activated due to smoking, vaping, or activity that creates excessive smoke or dust within the building; 
  4. Failure to take necessary actions during construction or renovations to prevent a false alarm (i.e. use protective covers over smoke detectors during drywall sanding, cleaning around detectors, etc.); 
  5. Failure to notify the Fire Department in advance of a fire drill, monthly test of fire alarm/sprinkler system, or person working on the fire alarm and/or sprinkler system;
  6. Failure to implement measures recommended by the Fire Department to prevent false alarm system activations (i.e. not installing protective covers over manual pull stations, failing to provide fire sprinkler protective cages);  
  7. Failure to maintain adequate heat in a sprinklered building to prevent the freezing of a fire sprinkler; or
  8. Other preventable false alarms will be evaluated on an individual basis and the Fire Chief or his/her designate may use their discretion in making a determination to charge an applicable fee. 

  NOTE:  Schedule ‘A’ of the Town of Lincoln approved Fees and Charges By-Law provides that any false alarm fee may be reduced by a verifiable amount paid to a Certified Fire Alarm Technician to repair/upgrade the fire alarm system in order to prevent further false alarms to the satisfaction of the Chief Fire Official.

FAQs

• I was not the at-fault vehicle involved in a motor vehicle collision. Will I receive an invoice?

  No. Only the at-fault vehicle owner(s) will be invoiced.

• I am a resident of the Town of Lincoln. Will I receive an invoice?

  No. Only non-residents will be invoiced.

• I am not a resident of the Town of Lincoln. Will I receive an invoice?

  Yes.  Niagara West Fire and Emergency Services provides services to both residents and non-residents in the Town of Lincoln.  Since non-resident motorists do not pay municipal taxes to the Town of Lincoln, the costs of providing these services fall solely on local taxpayers. As such an invoice will be issued to non-residents to reduce the financial burden on Lincoln residents.  

• I am the at-fault driver. Will I need to pay this invoice directly?

  Invoices will be issued to the registered vehicle owner(s) involved in the incident. In the case of a motor vehicle collision, the at-faulty as determined by the attending police service will be invoiced.  It may be beneficial to contact your insurance provider to enquire if the invoice qualifies for coverage under your policy.

• Do any other municipalities issue invoices for fire department responses to non-resident motor vehicle incidents? Have you issued invoices like this before?

  Yes. Many other municipalities, both locally and across the province, issue invoices to residents and non-residents for motor vehicle incidents on both provincial highways and municipal roadways.  Niagara West Fire and Emergency Services has issued invoices for responses to provincial highways for many years.  In order to reduce financial burdens on local taxpayers and avoid the need to increase taxes, the Town of Lincoln began invoicing for non-resident motor vehicle incidents on municipal roads in 2025. 

• Can this invoice be billed directly to my insurance provider?

  No.  At this time, invoices will be sent to the non-resident registered vehicle owner. It is up to the vehicle owner to contact their insurance provider to determine if the invoice is covered under their existing policy.  If a vehicle owner does not have coverage for the invoice, they are responsible for paying the fee directly to the Town of Lincoln. 

• Will my insurance premiums go up if I am invoiced as the at-fault vehicle owner?

  You should contact your insurance company directly to discuss how your rate may be impacted as a result of being deemed an at-fault vehicle owner.

• What am I paying for? How much am I being invoiced?

  You are being invoiced for services performed by Niagara West Fire and Emergency Services to respond to and mitigate the incident.  The Town of Lincoln Fees and Charges Bylaw prescribes a fee of $999.00 per hour per responding apparatus, with a one (1) hour minimum.

• Can I appeal this invoice?

  Yes, you can appeal an invoice under specific circumstances. Invoices can be appealed on the following grounds:

  • You received an invoice but are not the registered owner of the vehicle indicated on the invoice.
  • At a later date, a proceeding in a Provincial Offences Court determines that you are not the at-fault party involved in the motor vehicle collision.
  • You’re an insurance company and your policy holder was found to not be the at-fault driver involved in the collision after you’ve paid out the claim.

  Invoices can be appealed by emailing a request for an appeal to firerescue@lincoln.ca.  The date of the incident, vehicle information, and copies of any documents supporting the appeal must be included in the request.