Did I waste the fire department’s time?

[u/Kevsterific]

I was out for a trail run and got to a clearing at the top of a big hill that I could look out and see off in the distance.

I saw a big flame about 1km away (as the crow flies)

I called the fire department to report and stressed that while it looked like a big flame I didn’t know exactly where (I was able to give a street name by looking at google maps). In hindsight I didn’t see any smoke accompanying it and I didn’t think to mention it.

The dispatcher said there’s something called a burn off (I think that’s the phrase he used) in the area, but I told him I didn’t know what that was or looked like.

He said they’d send someone over to check it out but I’m just worried either it wasn’t actually a fire a was seeing or it was the burn off the dispatcher mentioned and I just wasted their time on a false alarm

I took this picture after I hung up, I wish I had a way of showing them what I saw so they could better determine what I was calling about

[u/Doverben214]

We’ve got a coffee place in my first due. There’s a big coffee cup on top of the building. There’s a mist machine inside the coffee cup. We get a call once a pay period for a commercial structure fire. It’s awesome…until you recognize the address. The high then sudden low will give you whiplash. “Alright guys, don’t hurt yourselves back there…it’s the coffee place..it’s not burnin.” The dress rehearsals are still good reps. Don’t feel bad. If you aren’t sure what you’re seeing, call.