Early morning visitors to our home. Thank goodness.

Around 6:00 yesterday morning, our newly installed carbon monoxide detector began beeping. We had work done on our furnace the day before, plus we had a new carbon monoxide detector installed at the same time, so I wasn’t sure if the problem was carbon monoxide or a faulty detector.

So after some hemming and hawing, I finally called 911.

Ten minutes later, two fire trucks arrived with seven firefighters who proceeded to inspect our home from top to bottom for any signs of carbon monoxide.

In the end, it was determined that our new CO detector was faulty and needed to be replaced.

As the firefighters pulled away, I couldn’t help but be so grateful for all of the systems in place to keep my family safe:

• An emergency hotline, monitored 24 hours a day by professionals who responded quickly and expertly to my request for assistance.
• A fire department capable of mobilizing two crews of firefighters in minutes to inspect the house twice to ensure our safety.

Remarkable. Between 911 operators, dispatch, and firefighters, nearly a dozen trained professionals sprung into action early in the morning to keep my family safe.

It’s sometimes easy to forget how lucky we are to live in a country where all of this is possible.

Also a good reminder that our public servants are historically underpaid while performing some of the most important serves in our community.