Alexa saved my home and my pets from a fire

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thomasortega

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May 6, 2008
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El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Por
I've always had that small internal conflict trying to balance my privacy and the convenience of having the Amazon Echo (popularly known as Alexa). I've even mentioned it here a few times before.

Today, an incident changed everything and made me really trust Alexa.

Earlier this year, I learned about a new function Alexa has called "Guard". It's part or the Ring package (Ring, the security cameras and doorbell, is also owned by Amazon).

Amazon Guard listens to smoke alarms and glass breaking so it basically turns Alexa into an alarm system. It's also very easy to "teach" Alexa the different zones by simply entering the routine setup and hitting the test button in each smoke alarm. Based on positioning in relation to the Alexa devices, "she" will listen to the smoke alarm differently and report exactly which smoke or CO alarm went off and send messages to other Alexa devices and SMS to a list of number that you previously registered.

I was in Long Beach, driving and the Alexa Auto interrupted the song I was listening and made the Announcement "Smoke alarm detected, kitchen". My first reaction was "Ok, my roommate is cooking again, as he manages to trigger the smoke alarm 2 or 3 times per week with his terrible cooking skills."
A few seconds later, a second announcement "Smoke alarm detected Master bedroom". My left eyebrow raised. The bedroom smoke alarm NEVER went off before.

Less than 30 seconds later "smoke alarm detected living room" and "Smoke alarm detected hallway - starting emergency routine"

ONE MINUTE later, my phone rings, the most scary number on the caller ID "9-1-1"

Hello is this Mr. Thomas Ortega? Yes, it's me "This is Los Angeles Fire Department, we received an activation of your Amazon Guard reporting that four smoke alarms went off in under three minutes. Would you please confirm the address your alexa device is located is XXXXXX? Yes, that's my address. Thanks for the confirmation, we're dispatching LAFD.

I started driving home like crazy, Kevin called me. "Thomas is everything ok? your alexa sent me a fire alarm SMS" IDK Kevin but it looks like there's a fire in my house. I'm driving there right now.

What really happened.

My neighbor arrived and parked his "frog eye" old mercedes in his garage (craftsman townhouse, his garage is right in the middle, under my home). He lives in the front house, mine is the back. He parked, closed the garage and walked away. His car simply decided to catch fire seconds later.

Before anybody had the chance to realize there was a fire, the smoke filled my home and the alarms went off, Alexa notified everybody and called 911 automatically. LAFD arrived in a heartbeat, before the fire had the chance to spread and cause more damages.

It sucks, of course, but..... What if I didn't have my smoke alarms always in pristine conditions? What If I didn't have Alexa to listen to the smoke alarm? Nobody was home, only my dogs, fishes and bird!

Well, we lose some privacy, that's a fact but simply having a smartphone (Siri, Bixby, Hey Google) already does the same. Of course they all deny but they're always listening to everything, 24/7. Amazon, ok.... It's somewhat annoying to have Alexa applauding you and saying "congratulations" when you burp loud or putting Gas-X on you amazon shopping list when you fart loud. however... Dolby, Miele, Breville and the fishes could be dead now, I could be homeless now. Even the computer I'm typing this post could be a pile of ashes now if it wasn't Alexa "listening" to everything 24/7.

Tomorrow I'll replace all five smoke alarms because they spent over one hour sounding non stop and now they're chirping and Amazon of course is already showing me an annoying selection of smoke alarms and batteries because nosey Alexa listened to the chirps and every 5 minutes it send an alert to my phone saying she listened to a chirp and the SOAB even tells me which smoke alarm chirped).
 
It was scary, but at the same time it was a big relief when I arrived home and saw all that mess and that my pets were all OK. Simple smoke alarms (and Alexa) made a huge difference. FOUR MINUTES AND ELEVEN SECONDS of difference, to be more specific. That was the time between Alexa sending me the first alert and the LAFD arrival at the scene.

Some people may think I'm a bit picky because I replace my smoke alarms way before the 10-year beaten path rule, just in case (I replace them every 3 years and after yesterday they'll be replaced again only a couple of months after the last replacement, now justified because they're all chirping after over one hour sounding non stop) but come on.... What is spending $100 every 3 years when we realized it saved my pets lives and all my belongings? The cost is nothing considering that those tiny annoying devices allowed a happy ending to this scary moment.
 
Smoke alarms that are connected to the outside world are a no-brainer these days. We added one for each floor to our existing SimpliSafe alarm setup after a friend lost a pet due to a small fire when they were not home. Smoke alarms only work when someone can respond to them. Glad that everything turned out okay for you!
 
Smoke alarms that are connected to a home security system, or an Alexa, can be life and property savers. I am glad for your good outcome. I designed my home security system with Brinks before I even closed on my house almost 30 years ago. I would not feel safe without it.
 
The batteries are sealed (10-year) impossible to replace. They supposedly last 10 years and the life is the same as the detector.

But as they sounded non stop for a bit over 1 hour, the batteries drained and died (with honors) it did what it had to do, worked when I most needed it.

Also, just in case, they were exposed to too much smoke, they're stained Black, I dont think I would keep the same even if I could replace the batteries. Those detectors may either start giving false alarms or fail when I need.
 
Didn't even have to.

I have probably the most amazing landlord in the world. He's like "Don't worry, Thomas, I'll take care of everything" and he really is, at the same time he's being very nice to the other tenant (the front house neighbor whose car started the fire). Mr. Jones is more like a close friend than a Landlord and you know, it's a two-way street. Great landlords make great tenants and great tenants make great landlords.

Actually, my neighbor is also awesome, a really nice guy and I feel sorry for his loss. That old Mercedes was like a son to him, he pampered that car day and night, it was his pride and joy. What happened was just one of those bad hair day incidents that could happen to anybody. He wasn't negligent at all, he didn't do anything wrong. His insurance will pay him money enough to get another car. Also, my landlord, my roommate, Darryl and I will help him with some money so he can get a better car. If I had the money to afford it, I'd personally buy him a brand new TOL Mercedes with all the optional accessories because he deserves. But even if I did that, for him it will never be the same. It won't be the Mercedes he had for over 20 years and loved.
 
All my smoke and CO detectors are "smart" and are liked to my Smartthings and Alexa, consequently to my phone. Never had an issue but feel better protected with the in place.

 

Thomas, glad things turned out well for you.
 
I'm really glad you and your pets are OK. Even though I like vintage stuff there are many positives to modern technology. I just installed some Arlo security cameras that sends me alerts and that I can check using my cell phone. Ain't living in the future great?
 

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