MalahatTwo7
08-07-2007, 10:09 AM
Ok, here's the story:
I was waiting for the bus to the Metro this morning, and had arrived at the bus stop about 15 min early. As I am standing there watching the world go by at about 45mph (busy street), I hear a smoke detector in one of the adjacent homes go off.
"Oh Just Great." I think. "Wonderful." But I figure since I can hear it, it must be in the near home. So I walk the length of the property facing the street and as I get to the south edge of the home, the sound gets fainter. Ok I have a general direction now. I head off down the side street, and the sound is getting louder. I'm looking at the structure, appears to be single story, bungalow, with brick walls - pretty common around these parts of NoVa. I don't see/smell smoke, the windows appear to be clear, and then I see a light on in the front room. Ok. Good there - maybe.
Just as I "hit" the driveway, the detector shuts off. Ok. Even better. I give it a few seconds, then turn and walk back up the street to wait for my bus.
WONDERFUL. Here comes the bus, and wouldn't ya know it, the dang alarm goes off again. Its been about 7 or 8 minutes.... then I start to think:
Ok. It went off once, and was acknowledged. Its going off again. What are the odds that Mr and Mrs each had a shower and due to the high humidity today (Code Orange at 630am) the steam of the shower is setting it off?
So.... the delema: What to do? I did not see anything on a very short investigation; the alarm appeared to have been acknowledged and then was activated a 2nd time; I'm an Army Geek, who's hours are somewhat flexible, but the next bus is not for another 45 minutes, which would make me very very late.......
Right, I boarded my bus and went to work, hoping that nothing more serious than steam from the shower caused the activation. :o
I was waiting for the bus to the Metro this morning, and had arrived at the bus stop about 15 min early. As I am standing there watching the world go by at about 45mph (busy street), I hear a smoke detector in one of the adjacent homes go off.
"Oh Just Great." I think. "Wonderful." But I figure since I can hear it, it must be in the near home. So I walk the length of the property facing the street and as I get to the south edge of the home, the sound gets fainter. Ok I have a general direction now. I head off down the side street, and the sound is getting louder. I'm looking at the structure, appears to be single story, bungalow, with brick walls - pretty common around these parts of NoVa. I don't see/smell smoke, the windows appear to be clear, and then I see a light on in the front room. Ok. Good there - maybe.
Just as I "hit" the driveway, the detector shuts off. Ok. Even better. I give it a few seconds, then turn and walk back up the street to wait for my bus.
WONDERFUL. Here comes the bus, and wouldn't ya know it, the dang alarm goes off again. Its been about 7 or 8 minutes.... then I start to think:
Ok. It went off once, and was acknowledged. Its going off again. What are the odds that Mr and Mrs each had a shower and due to the high humidity today (Code Orange at 630am) the steam of the shower is setting it off?
So.... the delema: What to do? I did not see anything on a very short investigation; the alarm appeared to have been acknowledged and then was activated a 2nd time; I'm an Army Geek, who's hours are somewhat flexible, but the next bus is not for another 45 minutes, which would make me very very late.......
Right, I boarded my bus and went to work, hoping that nothing more serious than steam from the shower caused the activation. :o