 Hoax calls waste firefighters' time and can lead to loss of life |
A hoax caller has had his mobile phone disconnected after three calls were made to a fire control centre. Officials at Kent Fire and Rescue Service have warned people to think of the consequences of making false 999 calls after receiving a spate of them.
One of the incidents led to crews being sent to false reports of a cooker alight in Rochester.
Hoax callers can face fines of up to �5,000 and six months in prison if they are successfully prosecuted.
Genuine emergencies
Kent Fire and Rescue Service warned that anyone making hoax calls from a mobile phone for the first time would be sent a text message warning they faced being cut off.
If that mobile was used again to make a hoax call, control staff would request disconnection by the service provider.
In some instances, fire control room staff can request a phone is cut off immediately.
Fire service spokesman Stuart Skilton said hoax calls had the potential to divert crews from genuine emergencies and could result in a loss of life.
"People may think it is harmless fun but it is certainly not," he added.
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