What Happens When Your Monitored Alarm Goes Off?
It is 3 a.m., you are on a beach in Florida, and your back door alarm trips. What actually happens next? Here is the step-by-step process for a Blaze Alarms monitored home, and why each step is there.
By Ilan Nahum , Blaze Alarms October 13, 2026 6 min read
- The monitoring station receives the signal and first tries to reach you and your contacts to check it.
- For burglary alarms, private guards go to your property. Police are called when a break-in is confirmed.
- Fire alarms go to the fire department. Medical alarms go to an ambulance.
- Checking first cuts down false alarms, which many GTA police services now charge for.
Step by step: a burglary alarm
- The sensor trips A door opens, a window opens or a motion detector sees movement while the system is armed. If nobody enters the code in time, the siren sounds.
- The signal reaches the station Your panel sends the alarm over the cellular network to our ULC-listed monitoring station, which is staffed 24/7. The operator sees which zone tripped, for example "back door" or "basement motion".
- The station calls to check The operator calls you and your listed contacts (your keyholders) to find out if it is a real alarm. If someone answers with the right password and says it is a false alarm, the call ends there.
- Private guards respond If nobody confirms it is a false alarm, private guards are sent to your property to check the outside of the house and look for signs of a break-in.
- Police are called if there is a break-in When a break-in is confirmed, police are called to your home.
- You get an update The station or the guard lets you or your contacts know what was found.
Fire and medical alarms are different
Some alarms do not wait for a guard:
- Fire: when a monitored smoke or heat detector goes off, or someone presses the fire button on the keypad, the station sends the fire department.
- Medical: when someone presses the medical button on the keypad, the station sends an ambulance.
- Police panic: the police button on the keypad is for emergencies when you need help right now.
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Why the station calls you first
Most alarms that go off are not break-ins. A family member forgets the code, a cleaner comes in early, a pet climbs onto the couch, a door is not fully closed. If police were sent to every alarm, they would spend most of their time at false alarms. That is why many police services in the GTA charge homeowners for repeated false alarms, and why checking first protects you as well as them.
Why guards matter
Private guards are trained to check a property and report what they see. They can tell the station whether there is a broken window or a forced door, which is exactly what police need to treat it as a real break-in. At Blaze Alarms, every monitoring plan comes with guard response, so a real person goes to your home, not just a phone call. The guard cost is added on top of the monitoring price. Our post on monitoring costs has more on this.
How to make the process work well
- Keep your contact list current. At least two people who live nearby and can answer at night.
- Know your password. The station will ask for it before cancelling an alarm.
- Tell us about changes. New phone numbers, a cleaner, a dog walker or a renovation.
- Test your system now and then. Call us first and we will put the system on test.
What if I am not monitored?
Then the siren is the only response. If you are away and nobody nearby reacts, nothing else happens. If your alarm is not monitored today, it can usually be connected without replacing the system. See how switching works, or learn more about our 24/7 alarm monitoring.
Frequently asked questions
Do police come when my alarm goes off?
For burglary alarms, private guards go first. Police are called when a break-in is confirmed. Fire alarms go to the fire department and medical alarms to an ambulance.
Who gets called first?
You and the contacts on your list, in the order you choose. The operator checks whether it is a real alarm.
What if I set off the alarm by mistake?
Enter your code to stop the siren. If the station calls, answer and give your password. That cancels the alarm.
Is guard response extra?
Yes, its cost is added on top of the $25 monthly monitoring price. Every Blaze Alarms plan comes with guard response, and your written quote shows the full monthly total.
Ilan Nahum runs Blaze Alarms, a Toronto security company installing alarm systems and security cameras across the GTA since 1990. Rated stars from 178 Google reviews.
Blaze Alarms has protected Toronto and GTA homes since 1990. Tell us about your home and we will give you a clear written quote.