Early Warning Alarm System (EWAS) -Termination of Monitoring May 30, 2023
Please Read: Termination of 3A Smart Home Monitoring
INFO ON FIRE ALARM COMPANIES
DISCLAIMER
The Saratoga Fire district is providing information on vendors providing fire alarm monitoring services. The District does not endorse or recommend any particular alarm company. The names of these entities are provided to you solely as a matter of information. You must make your own investigation and inquiry as to the capability and appropriateness of any alarm company you choose. The district assumes no liability for the actions of any alarm company you should choose to provide monitoring services to you.
The following list is not complete:
- Fire Alert, 15732 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos, CA 95032 – 408-723-2223
- Kelex Security, 2959 S. Winchester Blvd., Campbell, CA 95008 – 408-378-2672
- Los Gatos Alarm, 649 University Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030 – 408-395-9500
- Sight & Sound, 401 E. Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 – 408-773-9703
- Trojan Security, 60 Rickenbacker Circle, Livermore, CA 94550 – 800-434-2527
- Pratt Security, 1289 Reamwood Avenue #F, Sunnyvale, CA 94089 – 408-745-7290
PDF Forms
EWAS Standards and Requirements
EWAS Subscriber Information Form
EWAS REPAIRS
If you are notified that your fire alarm system is not sending in a test signal:
- Please make sure the panel is connected to a phone line that has a dial tone.
- If it is properly connected, contract your installer or a service company and set up an appointment to have them trouble-shoot the system.
- They will need to know that this is a Saratoga EWAS account. They will also need to know the brand name of the panel and the model number. Some of the older systems need a specific device to reprogram and test the panels.
If you have any questions, please email Trina at: twhitley@saratogafire.org.
EWAS FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and Miscellaneous Information
MONITORING
The monitoring station phone number is 650-358-0973.
Why would I contact the monitoring station?
You contact the monitoring station to call in a false alarm, check your signals, or put your system “on test.” You put your system on test (there is no response to alarms while a system is on test) if someone is working on the system or you are doing something that would set the alarm off like sanding the floors.
The monitoring station will ask you for a PASSWORD.
What is my password?
If you have not chosen a personal password, it is either your account number or a version of your account number. If your account number starts with a 110 as in 110xxx, your password is 4xxx. The “4” designates the monitoring station receiver. All other passwords are the complete account number.
Why do I need a password?
The monitoring station is UL approved. In order to maintain that status, they require that everyone uses a password.
How do I choose a personal password?
Fire alarm system passwords should not be anything that you use as a security password. They should be something that is easily understood over the phone and easily remembered by everyone in the family (street addresses, dog’s names etc.). If you decide to choose a personal password or change the one you have, e-mail Trina Whitley the new password with either your account number or address twhitlev@saratogafire.org.
What do I do if I forget my password?
This is usually a problem when trying to call in a false alarm. The monitoring station will not cancel an alarm unless you have your password. Write your password on a piece of paper and attach it to your alarm panel or keep it by your phone. If you have chosen a personal password and do not remember it, the monitoring station will accept your account number. Once the crisis is over, e-mail twhitley@saratogafire.org.
TELEPHONE SYSTEMS
The alarm panel sends in a test signal once every 24 hours. This signal is sent over a telephone line. The panel must hear a dial tone when it is dialing out. Telephone technology is changing rapidly, but as of now:
- AT&T land lines work best with the fire alarm panels.
- Comcast can be made to work. The Comcast installer must be told that the system needs to hear a dial tone. It may take more than one call for them to get it right.
- Internet based systems (including AT&T Uverse) are extremely difficult to get to work with the alarm panels and therefore not recommended.
BILLING
INVOICES – Invoices automatically post in the accounting system on the first day of the quarter. Invoices are not printed or mailed. The accounting system retains detail information for five years.
STATEMENTS – A statement is sent in the month after the quarter is over. For example, the statement for January, February, and March would be sent in April. There is no way to control how long information is retained on the statements. Occasionally, a payment will be dropped off the statement and not appear to have been received.
What do I do if I think a payment is missing?
Request a “detail report.” The report will show all activity for the previous five years. If a payment is missing, send, fax (408-867-1330), or e-mail, a copy of the front and back of the check so it can be traced and any error corrected.