Firefighter told me I shouldn't have called.

[u/PhilosopherFull819]

The smoke detector was going off from the car port underneath the garage apartments behind the 4plex I live in. I walked outside and saw no smoke or fire and found the detector. I mulled over reaching up and disabling it myself but I opted to err on the side of caution and report it. A truck pulled up minutes later and I showed the guys what I saw. The tallest one reached up and pulled it off and took out the battery. Another one got angry and said that I should "grow up" and "feel embarrassed" for calling. To which I replied I didn't want to turn off the alarm without confirming there was no danger that I couldn't see myself and thanked them and told them to have a nice day and they left. I imaging he was stressed and tired but can't help feeling like I did something wrong.

[u/Dad_fire_outdoors]

Couple questions. If I was creating a follow up report these are some examples of what might be asked.

You described a detector “going off”. Was it chirping every 30 seconds or actively alarming? Was it the only detector audibly alerting? Did you call 911 or did you call a non-emergency number?
Is this garage part of the structure you live in or detached/as in a different building from your building?
What else was said? (This would be to establish if you say that you were embarrassed, and the firefighter agreed. As an example)
Was there any physical contact between anybody on the scene?
Were you threatened in anyway?
Did the crew offer to replace the detector or install new batteries? Or, if you are not the correct contact did they attempt to find the owner or maintenance person?

Your area department will already know this, but if you have a history of false calls and/or abusing resources, it will be considered. I’m not saying that you do. Just nobody on this thread actually knows the whole story, myself included.

Imo it seems like you were aware that there was a very low probability of a serious issue, you erred on the side of caution. They should have educated you in a professional manner. The firefighter could be a huge dick and does this all the time, or they could have just heard their SO’s was cheating and the dog died and it’s a one off. Either way you shouldn’t feel guilty for using a public service.

[u/PhilosopherFull819 → u/Dad_fire_outdoors]

Active alarm. Loud 3 ina row repeating alarm. I called 911 and told them I saw no smoke or flame, but wanted someone to come check to be certain because it had been going off a long time. There are two small apartments which are above the car parks. In Texas we call it a garage apartment. Since its garage on the bottom and apartment on top not sure if everywhere its called that. The 3 man crew pulled up in the engine, lights on. They all came out one had a clipboard and I walked them to the back and showed them what was going on. I said someone lives in the apt upstairs but I live in the 4 plex in front of the garage apartments. Then the tall one takes off the detector that is blaring, pulls out the battery and thats when the one FF verbally berated me real quick and then walked off. The other two followed behind, still had the detector he didn't give it back to me. I told them thank you and have a good one. Thats it! They didnt ask me anything at all or look in the garage apartment of hang out for longer than 3 min.