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Original poster

Had to call the fire brigade out. Smoke alarm kept going off!!

85 replies

Elderflower14 · 25/12/2023 16:28

Just as we sat down to eat our lunch the smoke alarm kept going off. We checked everywhere and no smoke or anything. We kept switching it off. It's connected to the electrics. The fire brigade fitted it. It went off six times. We tried to ring the non emergency fire brigade number but it wasn't manned so I bit the bullet and dialled 999. I did stipulate the problem and explained it wasn't a huge emergency but they arrived with the sirens blaring!
Turns out one of the firemen was one of my pupils from school. Wilf and I gave him a big hug. They were very sweet as I was embarrassed and they fitted a new alarm before they left.

OP posts:
Sugarsun · 25/12/2023 18:33

CormorantStrikesBack · 25/12/2023 17:23

He’s in the photo. OP’s son.

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Oh ok thank you! I thought it was an MN acronym that is not heard of 🤣

gingeristhenewblack43 · 25/12/2023 20:11

Hi OP, if your smoke alarm is connected to the electrics then it will have a battery back up in case of a power cut. When the battery has been in need of replacing in my electrics wired smoke alarms then the smoke alarm keeps going off to alert us to change them.

Also for people who have hearing impairments you can get vibrating smoke alarms to go under bed pillows over night.

Simonjt · 25/12/2023 20:14

We had a wired alarm that had lights as our son is hearing impaired, like anything else when it went wrong (and it did twice!) you just take the fuse out at the mains.

sleepsuitbag · 25/12/2023 20:25

@CormorantStrikesBack you call an electrician

CormorantStrikesBack · 25/12/2023 20:26

sleepsuitbag · 25/12/2023 20:25

@CormorantStrikesBack you call an electrician

Yeah, I did think on a normal day that’s probably what you do…..not sure they’d come out on Xmas day though. 🤷‍♀️. Maybe there is an emergency on call Xmas day electrician because I guess you could potentially have an electric emergency.

sleepsuitbag · 25/12/2023 20:38

@CormorantStrikesBack you don't waste energy services time....

sleepsuitbag · 25/12/2023 20:38

Emergency*

CormorantStrikesBack · 25/12/2023 20:41

I do get that. But the OP told them what the issue was. They could have declined to come so they obviously didn’t think it was a waste of time. Part of their remit is fire prevention not just putting them out. So they fit smoke alarms, do household escape plans, etc.

sleepsuitbag · 25/12/2023 20:42

CormorantStrikesBack · 25/12/2023 20:41

I do get that. But the OP told them what the issue was. They could have declined to come so they obviously didn’t think it was a waste of time. Part of their remit is fire prevention not just putting them out. So they fit smoke alarms, do household escape plans, etc.

Not via 999 though.... local service I think do.

Original poster
Elderflower14 · 25/12/2023 21:03

sleepsuitbag · 25/12/2023 20:42

Not via 999 though.... local service I think do.

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I did try and ring the non emergency local fire brigade number but no joy!!!

OP posts:
sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea · 25/12/2023 21:07

I had the same thing with my electric fire alarm - three of them all linked to each other, so if one goes off, the others do too! It went on for weeks, just randomly going off until one of us went to hit the button to make it stop.
It wasn't until I mentioned it to a plumber who was here for something else that he suggested it could be a blocked filter in one of them. So feeling very silly, I hoovered my smoke alarms, and that fixed it!
It's so lovely to hear an update about Wilf - and to see how much he's thriving.

Growuppeople · 25/12/2023 21:09

It’s not an emergency and you post pictures of your child online, think that says it all really. Hope he had a good Christmas without stranger’s attention

Original poster
Elderflower14 · 25/12/2023 21:10

Growuppeople · 25/12/2023 21:09

It’s not an emergency and you post pictures of your child online, think that says it all really. Hope he had a good Christmas without stranger’s attention

Thankyou 😔

OP posts:
TiptoeTess · 25/12/2023 21:12

I’m literally speechless that you called 999 for that.

OT2023 · 25/12/2023 21:14

Lottie please ignore the naysayers. You did what you had to do.

to the person whining about posting child pictures - Wilf is an adult.

tothelefttotheleft · 25/12/2023 22:12

Some really nasty posters on this thread.

Alconleigh · 25/12/2023 22:27

BingoMarieHeeler · 25/12/2023 17:10

Always such a clear divide on your threads showing who is a longtime MNer and who is a newbie 😂

Will be a funny story for years to come! No need to be embarrassed, better safe than sorry. Merry Christmas!

Quite. Some people making a holy show of themselves in their desperation to be arseholes.

sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea · 25/12/2023 22:50

Merry Christmas Lottie & Wilf. This will be a Christmas Day to look back on for years & giggle over - and ignore the nasty posts. You absolutely did the right thing Flowers

Original poster
Elderflower14 · 25/12/2023 23:10

Thankyou to all who have kind and understanding..
Those of you who haven't... I hope it never happens to you!!

OP posts:
TinselTitts · 25/12/2023 23:41

BingoMarieHeeler · 25/12/2023 17:10

Always such a clear divide on your threads showing who is a longtime MNer and who is a newbie 😂

Will be a funny story for years to come! No need to be embarrassed, better safe than sorry. Merry Christmas!

Always such a clear divide on your threads showing who is a longtime MNer and who is a newbie 😂

Is that the reason you think there's always such a clear divide?

I beg to differ.

sleepsuitbag · 25/12/2023 23:53

Elderflower14 · 25/12/2023 23:10

Thankyou to all who have kind and understanding..
Those of you who haven't... I hope it never happens to you!!

I had an alarm that woke me up. Was awful. I managed to isolate it.

backtowinter · 26/12/2023 00:02

@TinselTitts The divide is not about length of time being a Mumsnetter?

Milkinthetray · 26/12/2023 00:07

AngelAurora · 25/12/2023 17:20

You wasted the fire brigades time in other words?

Last time I worked in an emergency services control room, it was the decision of the control room whether or not they went out.

Believe me there are plenty of time wasters who phone 999 for all manner of shite. Most get politely told to stop wasting time. They wouldn't be deployed to if it wasn't considered to be worth going out.

Unlike the other two, Fire don't actually get called out that much. They were all probably sat around with nothing else to do all day.

Kinneddar · 26/12/2023 04:30

Icelandic9 · 25/12/2023 17:29

If they fire brigade fit them then they have to expect to be called out to fix them when they go wrong

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Are you kidding? The FS fit them as a courtesy you don't sign up for a maintenance plan for call outs. IF they're good enough to fit one it's your responsibility. You don't go calling them out just because it's faulty 🙄

WandaWonder · 26/12/2023 04:44

An emergency electrical or othet fire safety company I get calling but not the fire brigade