Watsonville Fire Department

Due to the atmospheric storms we are having, my home on Bronte was in danger of flooding. The fire department advised they are helping with getting sandbags to protect homes and they were very helpful since another big storm is on the way.

So, my smoke alarms went off early this morning. I called and they were here within 10 minutes. They found the loose alarm and fixed it for me. Not 15 minutes after they left, they went all off again! Back they came, and this time they removed the unhappy alarm and also showed me how to disengage the alarms at the electric box panel. Throughout, the guys were so nice and pleasant, even the second time around! Thanks, guys!!

I opened the door to my house after returning from a week-long retreat. Chirp! Chirp!

I recognized that sound. Oh no! Back to reality. One or more of my smoke detector batteries had given out. That meant buying new ones to replace the old. I’m not tall enough to handle this task of replacing even with a step-ladder so I asked my trusty neighbor to help. He was more than happy to give me a hand.

However, after securing four new ones the chirping continued–once every two minutes. I timed them. We walked around the house and realized it was the smoke detector in the middle of the highest point of the high ceiling in my dining room (think two-story high). How could we reach that? My neighbor’s ladder wasn’t tall enough and frankly, I was afraid for him to climb that high even if it could reach.

That very day another neighbor came to take a look and suddenly he thought of an idea. “Call the fire department,” he said. “I’m 99% sure one of the firemen will come to your rescue. They have all kinds of ladders for all situations.” Voila! What a great idea.

I never would have thought of that but I tried it and next thing you know three handsome young fire fighters arrived in the big rig and brought in a high ladder. Two held it in place while the third scurried up to the top and made the change. Imagine!

One fireman told me this is just part of their community service and do such all the time–including getting cats down from trees, right? 😊

So this week the firefighters of the Watsonville, California Fire Department are my true heroes.