In my opinion one of the lowest things a person can do is turn in a false fire alarm.
This was unfortunately brought out again this past Sunday evening.
At approximately 9:20 PM my fellow tenants and I were greeted by members of the Shawnee FD evacuating our building. After a thorough search of the premises it was determined that a false alarm had been transmitted by someone activating one of the pull boxes.
These men are like firefighters everywhere. Willing to put their lives on the line for us (witness what just happened in South Carolina). To send them on a wild goose chase when someone else might need their expertise is disgusting.
Now, please follow what happened next. Just as the firefighters were preparing to leave, a large volume of smoke was observed coming from one of the apartments. Fortunately it was street side, and readily visible. They got out of their vehicle and went back into the building.
Apparently, one of the tenants in their haste to evacuate left something cooking on the stove. Fortunately, it just belched smoke (lots of it) and was stopped before it flamed up.
This false alarm almost turned into a real tragedy, and the tragedy would have been because of the false alarm.
I sincerely hope that the perpetrator is found and made to suffer the maximum penalty allowed by law for their criminal action.
The thanks and gratitude of myself and my neighbors to the Shawnee FD.
