Rincon resident warns commission that tenants are being told to 'ignore alarms' for long periods

David Ioska of the Rincon Standard Association told the San Francisco Fire Commission that hundreds of residents at his complex have been repeatedly instructed to "ignore alarms" for indeterminate periods, sometimes for hours at a time. "This feedback is coming through the phone... it's a pretty ridiculous situation," Ioska said, adding that when residents seek clarification at the front desk staff are not able to say whether the instruction remains in effect.

The commission did not take formal action on the comment during the meeting. The chair closed general public comment after Ioska's remarks, and commissioners invited the Fire Department to follow up through the department's public comment channels. Ioska said he would seek broader media attention if the department did not respond.

Why it matters: If residents are told to ignore fire alarms for extended periods without clear, authoritative explanation, the practice could increase public safety risk and confusion during actual emergencies. The caller requested a clear point of contact at the Fire Department to confirm whether the instruction is being implemented and under what circumstances.

What was said: "We believe that's always inherently risky...we are told to ignore alarms for an uncertain amount of time and sometimes for many hours," Ioska said. The transcript shows the caller asked who in the department could explain the rule and said front‑desk staff were unsure.

Next steps: Commissioners closed public comment and did not record a staff response on the record at the meeting. The commission's public comment procedure encourages follow‑up through staff or news media if the department does not clarify the situation to the caller's satisfaction.