The high rate of false alarm fire calls -- a problem that has been plaguing the McKees Rocks Volunteer Fire Department for years -- may be nearing a solution, Mayor Jack Muhr said last night at the borough council meeting.

A Dec. 23 meeting with representatives from the Allegheny County Housing Authority that runs Hays Manor, the source of many of the false alarm calls, was productive and could lead to a resolution of the problem, the mayor said.

Part of the issue was the level at which the sensitivity of the building's individual alarms were set.

"The alarms were set there at 2.5, the most sensitive setting, and were readjusted to 5.0, a less-sensitive setting. Since then, we have had only two false alarms, and the installation of new alarm systems is being planned. Everybody will be happy about this," Mayor Muhr said.

Of the 322 fire calls the McKees Rocks VFD answered in 2009, 127 were false alarms, and 58 of those were from Hays Manor, councilwoman Wanda Jones Dixon said.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.