After numerous fire alarm pulls that have interrupted classes and lunches, among other things, Langley’s fire alarms are being fitted with covers that deter potential pranksters.

The covers, eleven in all, are equipped with a piercing siren that sounds as soon as the cover is lifted. Fire alarms with covers cannot be pulled without the cover being removed and the siren sounding.

Currently, there is a delay between the time the fire alarm is pulled and the time it sounds, so people can pull the alarm and walk away without bringing attention to themselves.

With the new covers, there is no delay between the pull and the siren sounding.

Rufus Allen, a Fire Alarm Technician for Fairfax County, installed the covers on Thursday. Each cover cost the county $300, $3300 total for all eleven covers.

According to Allen, schools that have had problems in the past with people pulling fire alarms have installed the alarm covers.