LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)— Fire departments in the city and parish have experienced an increase in the amount of false fire alarm activations in residential structures, authorities said.

According to a news release, the activation of the fire alarms are the result of construction work in flood-damaged homes.

Alton Trahan with the Lafayette Fire Department said the removal of sheetrock creates dust which activates the alarm.

The Departments encourage owners to place their fire alarm in “test mode” during demolition and renovation phases of their cleanup.

To place your alarm in this mode, you must call your monitoring company and notify them of your intent according to Trahan. After you have completed your work for the day, call your monitoring company and remove your system out of “test mode”.

Trahan also said another solution to false alarms would be to shield the dust particles by bagging smoke alarms while work is being performed and then removing the bags once work is done for the day.