Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

3 fire engines and no fire! How do I tell them?

65 replies

WednesdayDrama · 27/10/2021 20:09

I have nc as this will out me.

So about 40 minutes ago watching a movie with DD and we could hear beeping.

Looked a around the house even the loft and it's not from my home.
The beeping was strongest on the landing and I realised it was next doors smoke alarm.

We are a semi so ran round and knocked on their door. All the lights are on but no answer. I lifted the letter box and the hallway looked smokey.

I was in my dressing gown so put on legging and a t shirt and jumped over my back garden wall in to their garden as the blinds were down at the front.
Kitchen looked full of white smoke so I called 999.

One fire engine turned up firemen jumped the wall and agreed the kitchen was full of smoke so they kicked the door panel in to gain entry.
By this time 2 other fire engines and a fire car had turned up.

Upshot is the couple that live there had set off a bug bomb and left the house.
It hasn't occurred to them that a smoke bomb would set of their smoke alarms.

I feel so guilty that 3 fire engines turned up their back door kicked in ( fireman has fixed it) and no fire.
Everyone's gone and I am now left waiting for the neighbours to return so I can tell them what I have done Blush

The fire service and other neighbours all say I did the right thing calling them but I can't help feeling guilty.

Please help me figure out how to break the news Grin

OP posts:
autumnboys · 27/10/2021 20:14

I would hope they will be too busy thanking you for your swift action & apologising for you to need to say much. You’re a good neighbour. Hope the convo goes well.

Slub · 27/10/2021 20:15

If you were my neighbour I'd be very grateful for your actions - better safe than sorry as the saying goes!

Capferret · 27/10/2021 20:15

Think how much worse you would feel if you did nothing and the house burned down.
Sorry neighbour, I heard your smoke alarm and ignored it.

Lockdownbear · 27/10/2021 20:16

Good luck, have you got photos?
One of the neighbours is bound too.

What's a bug bomb?

PinkBuffalo · 27/10/2021 20:17

@Slub

If you were my neighbour I'd be very grateful for your actions - better safe than sorry as the saying goes!
This! I would be grateful someone was looking out for me 🙂
Bonbon21 · 27/10/2021 20:17

You absolutely did the right thing. They could have been lying unconscious in the house.
Do not apologise for being a good sensible neighbour,
As for them not realising a smoke bomb would set off SMOKE alarms.. well... what can I say???

PeterPomegranate · 27/10/2021 20:18

I don’t even know what a bug bomb is!

You did the right thing. Even though your neighbours might be a bit shocked I hope they understand you acted in their interests.

The people who arrived in the fire engine are called firefighters by the way.

Original poster
WednesdayDrama · 27/10/2021 20:18

The fire service did say it was them who kicked the door in not me so I can blame them 🤣

I know I did the right thing but the anxiety is building in me knowing I have to catch them when they come home and start this conversation.

OP posts:
TSSDNCOP · 27/10/2021 20:18

3 loads of firemen you say?

KittenKong · 27/10/2021 20:18

We’ve had out local station out quite a few times (lots of idiots in our block) - it got to the stage where he knew which watch had arrived - they were always relaxed when it was a false alarm. I guess pointing out the man who had decided to make himself a bacon sarnie when drunk and fell asleep...was better than looking for bodies...

TheCanyon · 27/10/2021 20:20

This happened at the flats adjacent to us. Fireman climbed in the semi open kitchen window, to be met by flea bombs, he flew back out that window in a minute. Said fireman is dh best friend, I swear I've never seen him move so fast. The neighbour that lived there was an utter twat though, so her embarrassment was beautiful.

Keepthechangefilthyanimal · 27/10/2021 20:20

We used bug bombs when we lived in Australia. Set them off, go out and then they kill off any bugs in your house for about 3 months.

Oldraver · 27/10/2021 20:20

I did almost the same, neighbours smoke alarm went off and I knew they had gone on holiday. Me and a neighbour had a look round and at one window it appeared smokey so I called the Fire Service

Luckily their Dad turned up just before the fire engine and no fire

Only thing is it was a fireman's house so there was the whole she and turned up

Original poster
WednesdayDrama · 27/10/2021 20:21

The people who arrived in the fire engine are called firefighters by the way.

Yes sorry I do know that just a bit flustered still and the crew from the first engine I spoke with were all men and I am old and grew up calling them firemen so it's stuck in my head.

I will makes sure I say fire fighters I really didn't mean to offend anyone Blush

OP posts:
SquishySquirmy · 27/10/2021 20:21

Not your fault and you did the right thing.

If anyone made an avoidable mistake, it was the neighbours for not checking bug bomb instructions (which probably have something about disabling smoke alarms), or at least warning the neighbours if they couldn't disable the alarms.
Your mistake wasn't avoidable in the same way... you saw white smoke coming from a kitchen, which could very easily have been fire!
Hopefully the neighbours will be able to claim for the door on their home insurance. Better than a burnt down house!

SpookyPumpkinPants · 27/10/2021 20:21

If they're not grateful, just tell them next time you'll watch their house burn down instead.

I don't know if it would have occurred to me that it would set the fire alarm off, but I'd have read the instructions (where hopefully it's mentioned!)

I'd feel embarrassed that I'd caused you so much hassle if I was them!

ShirleyPhallus · 27/10/2021 20:23

Anyone else thinking of Monica and Rachel fogging Danny?

“I did not fog Danny!…. Who is Danny?!”

PeterPomegranate · 27/10/2021 20:23

“ I will makes sure I say fire fighters I really didn't mean to offend anyone”

Not offended Smile It’s just that fire & rescue services are doing a lot of work to be more diverse and inclusive and using the term firefighter is part of that.

Original poster
WednesdayDrama · 27/10/2021 20:24

3 loads of firemen you say?

3 fire engines and 1 fire car/vehicle.

I appreciate I said firemen and I should have said firefighters.

OP posts:
KittenKong · 27/10/2021 20:24

My niece is a fire fighter and does laugh about call out la like this (a genuine mistake, not a malicious call).

The ones she talks about (accidents, suicides, body retrievals) as just so horrific (they get a lot of therapy), she would have found a flea bomb hysterical.

KittenKong · 27/10/2021 20:25

(She doesn’t mind being called a fireman, firelady, firema’am, lady fireman...)

Thatsplentyjack · 27/10/2021 20:28

So the door is fixed and everything is fine, what's there to feel guilty about. It could well have been a fire and there could have been people trapped/sleeping. You absolutely did the right thing.

WaltzingBetty · 27/10/2021 20:29

On the off chance your neighbours are arseholes, don't agree to pay for anything
You did the right thing

Original poster
WednesdayDrama · 27/10/2021 20:34

On the off chance your neighbours are arseholes

No I don't think they are....well I hope not. We have exchanged nods/smiles and "good mornings" since they moved in last year.
I am single mum and there is only me and DDs in the house so really hope they don't get nasty!

I have decided to ask if they want to swap numbers though. Had I had their number all this would have been avoided.

OP posts:
TSSDNCOP · 27/10/2021 20:34

I think I'm missing the point but come on, 3 loads of firemen. Fuck the door.