Queensland firefighters were called out to false alarms triggered by automatic alarms 10,000 times over the past year.
The statistics, revealed in a question on notice from the LNP's Trevor Watts, show Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews attended 10,046 incidents that resulted in a call-out fee in 2015-16.
As a result, the QFES sent out bills totalling $12.03 million for the financial year.
Of the 10,046 incidents attended that resulted in a call-out fee, 9771 were triggered by an "unwarranted alarm activation", or when an automated fire alarm was triggered, despite no genuine emergency.
The remaining 275 incidents involved occasions that would have required a fire crew intervention, but the building's occupants had already taken action by the time firefighters arrived.
Fire crews respond to all alarm activations.
A QFES spokeswoman said the service did not charge building owners for the initial unwanted alarm response within any continuous 60-day period.
But the building owner will be charged for any subsequent unwanted fire alarm within a 60-day period.
Firefighters responded to 69,091 incidents across Queensland in 2015-16, with 22,546 incidents alarm activations and 10,046 resulting in an unwanted alarm charge.
The spokeswoman said the most common locations for unwanted fire alarm responses were shopping centres, large hotel complexes, hospitals, aged care facilities, boarding schools and industrial sites.
"Some of the most common causes are cooking fumes, steam nad tradesmen or occupier activities," the spokeswoman said.
"One example of an unwanted alarm activation is steam from a shower at a residential apartment building."
The fee was $1170.75 in 2015-16, but it does not completely cover costs.
The spokeswoman said the income from fines for premises which generated unwanted alarms was returned to the QFES budget and was used for operating expenses.
"QFES charges for attendance at unwanted alarms to encourage building owners or occupiers to be continually proactive in managing fire alarm systems," she said.
"Unwanted alarms create a high burden on the community as they can generate complacency in a building's occupants due to exposure to excessive unwanted alarm activations."
Responding to the question on notice, Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan said the projected call-out charge for 2016-17 was $11.14 million.
The fee rose to $1211.70 in 2016-17.
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