diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.deconz/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/deconz/internal/handler/SensorBaseThingHandler.java b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.deconz/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/deconz/internal/handler/SensorBaseThingHandler.java
index 275eec94f..b5891dbfe 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.deconz/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/deconz/internal/handler/SensorBaseThingHandler.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.deconz/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/deconz/internal/handler/SensorBaseThingHandler.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import static org.openhab.binding.deconz.internal.BindingConstants.*;
 
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.concurrent.ScheduledFuture;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 
@@ -111,10 +112,8 @@ public abstract class SensorBaseThingHandler extends DeconzBaseThingHandler {
         }
 
         SensorMessage sensorMessage = (SensorMessage) stateResponse;
-        SensorConfig newSensorConfig = sensorMessage.config;
-        sensorConfig = newSensorConfig != null ? newSensorConfig : new SensorConfig();
-        SensorState newSensorState = sensorMessage.state;
-        sensorState = newSensorState != null ? newSensorState : new SensorState();
+        sensorConfig = Objects.requireNonNullElse(sensorMessage.config, new SensorConfig());
+        sensorState = Objects.requireNonNullElse(sensorMessage.state, new SensorState());
 
         // Add some information about the sensor
         if (!sensorConfig.reachable) {
@@ -146,10 +145,6 @@ public abstract class SensorBaseThingHandler extends DeconzBaseThingHandler {
 
         ignoreConfigurationUpdate = false;
 
-        // Initial data
-        updateChannels(sensorConfig);
-        updateChannels(sensorState, true);
-
         // "Last seen" is the last "ping" from the device, whereas "last update" is the last status changed.
         // For example, for a fire sensor, the device pings regularly, without necessarily updating channels.
         // So to monitor a sensor is still alive, the "last seen" is necessary.
@@ -165,6 +160,10 @@ public abstract class SensorBaseThingHandler extends DeconzBaseThingHandler {
                     config.lastSeenPolling);
         }
 
+        // Initial data
+        updateChannels(sensorConfig);
+        updateChannels(sensorState, true);
+
         updateStatus(ThingStatus.ONLINE);
     }
 
@@ -176,6 +175,11 @@ public abstract class SensorBaseThingHandler extends DeconzBaseThingHandler {
     }
 
     protected void createChannel(String channelId, ChannelKind kind) {
+        if (thing.getChannel(channelId) != null) {
+            // channel already exists, no update necessary
+            return;
+        }
+
         ThingHandlerCallback callback = getCallback();
         if (callback != null) {
             ChannelUID channelUID = new ChannelUID(thing.getUID(), channelId);
@@ -192,7 +196,7 @@ public abstract class SensorBaseThingHandler extends DeconzBaseThingHandler {
                     break;
             }
             Channel channel = callback.createChannelBuilder(channelUID, channelTypeUID).withKind(kind).build();
-            updateThing(editThing().withoutChannel(channelUID).withChannel(channel).build());
+            updateThing(editThing().withChannel(channel).build());
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.deconz/src/test/java/org/openhab/binding/deconz/SensorsTest.java b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.deconz/src/test/java/org/openhab/binding/deconz/SensorsTest.java
index d850220fe..47cfa80fe 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.deconz/src/test/java/org/openhab/binding/deconz/SensorsTest.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.deconz/src/test/java/org/openhab/binding/deconz/SensorsTest.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import org.openhab.binding.deconz.internal.types.LightType;
 import org.openhab.binding.deconz.internal.types.LightTypeDeserializer;
 import org.openhab.binding.deconz.internal.types.ThermostatMode;
 import org.openhab.binding.deconz.internal.types.ThermostatModeGsonTypeAdapter;
+import org.openhab.core.library.types.DecimalType;
 import org.openhab.core.library.types.OnOffType;
 import org.openhab.core.library.types.QuantityType;
 import org.openhab.core.library.types.StringType;
@@ -112,4 +113,29 @@ public class SensorsTest {
         Mockito.verify(thingHandlerCallback).stateUpdated(eq(channelTemperatureUID),
                 eq(new QuantityType<>(16.5, SIUnits.CELSIUS)));
     }
+
+    @Test
+    public void fireSensorUpdateTest() throws IOException {
+        SensorMessage sensorMessage = DeconzTest.getObjectFromJson("fire.json", SensorMessage.class, gson);
+        assertNotNull(sensorMessage);
+
+        ThingUID thingUID = new ThingUID("deconz", "sensor");
+        ChannelUID channelBatteryLevelUID = new ChannelUID(thingUID, CHANNEL_BATTERY_LEVEL);
+        ChannelUID channelFireUID = new ChannelUID(thingUID, CHANNEL_FIRE);
+        ChannelUID channelTamperedUID = new ChannelUID(thingUID, CHANNEL_TAMPERED);
+        ChannelUID channelLastSeenUID = new ChannelUID(thingUID, CHANNEL_LAST_SEEN);
+
+        Thing sensor = ThingBuilder.create(THING_TYPE_FIRE_SENSOR, thingUID)
+                .withChannel(ChannelBuilder.create(channelBatteryLevelUID, "Number").build())
+                .withChannel(ChannelBuilder.create(channelFireUID, "Switch").build())
+                .withChannel(ChannelBuilder.create(channelTamperedUID, "Switch").build())
+                .withChannel(ChannelBuilder.create(channelLastSeenUID, "DateTime").build()).build();
+        SensorThingHandler sensorThingHandler = new SensorThingHandler(sensor, gson);
+        sensorThingHandler.setCallback(thingHandlerCallback);
+
+        sensorThingHandler.messageReceived("", sensorMessage);
+
+        Mockito.verify(thingHandlerCallback).stateUpdated(eq(channelFireUID), eq(OnOffType.OFF));
+        Mockito.verify(thingHandlerCallback).stateUpdated(eq(channelBatteryLevelUID), eq(new DecimalType(98)));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.deconz/src/test/resources/org/openhab/binding/deconz/fire.json b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.deconz/src/test/resources/org/openhab/binding/deconz/fire.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..81ce08b18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.deconz/src/test/resources/org/openhab/binding/deconz/fire.json
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{
+    "config": {
+        "battery": 98,
+        "on": true,
+        "pending" : [],
+        "reachable": false
+    },
+    "ep": 1,
+    "etag": "717549a99371f3ea1a5f0b40f1537094",
+    "lastseen": null,
+    "manufacturername": "Heimann",
+    "modelid": "SMOK_YDLV10",
+    "name": "Smoke Sensor",
+    "state": {
+        "fire": false,
+        "lastupdated": "none",
+        "lowbattery": null,
+        "tampered": null
+    },
+    "swversion": "20150330",
+    "type": "ZHAFire",
+    "uniqueid": "00:15:8d:00:01:ff:8a:09-01-0500"
+}
\ No newline at end of file