What a False Fire Alarm Taught Me

Despite it being the Obon holiday, the weather has been gloomy, and yesterday afternoon we had a violent thunderstorm. It was just past noon, with thunder rumbling ominously, when a certain incident occurred.

Just as I had finished lunch and was taking a break, a deafening sound suddenly rang out in the room.
The fire alarmstarted blaring🚨

The message was that a fire had broken out nearby and we should evacuate immediately.

At that moment, I was with my two-year-old second son, who was fast asleep, and my five-year-old eldest son, who is cautious, kind, and loves Kirby.

The combination of that deafening sound, which I usually only hear during inspections, and the intense rain and thunder outside made even my heart, as an adult, race.

The first thing that crossed my mind was,
"Wait, is this real? Isn't it a malfunction?"
I didn't sense anything that felt like a fire.

That's why my initial reaction was slow—or rather, I couldn't immediately decide how to act. I tried to confirm that the fire wasn't in my own home, tried calling the management office (they didn't answer), and saw my eldest son, who seemed to have gone blank, unable to find his socks to put on his shoes, so I tried to calm him down.

I felt sorry to wake my second son, who was sleeping soundly despite the blaring alarm, so I tried to figure out the best course of action in an instant: should I verify the truth, or should I check outside without waking him?

In the midst of that,
"What if it really is a fire?"
That thought pushed me into action.

I shook off the feeling that it might be a malfunction and quickly put my sleeping second son into a baby carrier.
I took my eldest son, who was teary-eyed and saying he was scared, by the hand and left the entrance.

Fortunately, we live on the first floor.
Even though it's normal, I never realized how relieved I would feel to be able to get outside immediately without using the elevator.

In front of the elevator on the first floor, residents who were home had gathered, and I heard voices saying, "It's a false alarm."

At that moment, a huge sense of relief washed over me. At the same time, a complex feeling arose: "Oh, it was a false alarm after all. My second son was sleeping—don't scare us like that!"

In the end, it was a malfunction, and no one was harmed.

However, I look back on this as a "real evacuation drill" and found several points for reflection. I realized that while I prepare for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, I had never thought about how to act in the event of a fire.

Looking back with Gemini, I felt truly relieved that my decision to consider the "what if" and take all my children outside was definitely the right one. However, I would like to share some points for reflection.

Things I learned and vowed to do after this incident

1. Even if you have doubts, prioritize the "what if"

It might be human instinct to doubt and wonder if it's real at first. However, I learned later that fire smoke spreads upward much faster than a human can run. I learned firsthand the importance of acting immediately, prioritizing the "what if it's real" scenario, even if you think it might be a malfunction. I learned that if there is a fire, the first thing to do is evacuate outside immediately.

2. Even if you think it's a lie, never choose to leave your family behind

Looking back at the moment I thought, "They're sleeping, so I'll leave them for a moment to check," I realized how terrifying that thought was. They say that even a few seconds of hesitation looking for belongings in a fire can be fatal. Regardless, just grab your smartphone and yourself and escape in an instant. I vowed to myself that from now on, I will take the children and get out without hesitation.

3. Reviewing the balcony "evacuation route"

If the hallway by the entrance is unusable due to smoke, you have to escape from the balcony. I had installed cute solar garlands on our balcony that blocked the door and fence leading to the evacuation route, and because I had secured them tightly with zip ties, I realized, "This would hinder evacuation in an emergency..." I plan to switch to a type that can be removed by hand immediately.

4. I was so focused on earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that I hadn't thought about fire at all

Actually, I usually buy portable power supplies, N95 masks, water purifiers, and gas stoves, and I was convinced that "our home's disaster prevention measures are perfect!" But that was entirely focused on "earthquakes and Mt. Fuji eruptions." I realized how much the "evacuation from fire," which is the most immediate and time-sensitive, had slipped from my daily consciousness. This incident became a trigger for me to think about how to act in the event of a fire.

5. What was the basis for the residents saying "it seems to be a false alarm"? Perhaps I shouldn't have believed it so easily

I was convinced when I heard other residents gathered in the hall saying it was a malfunction, but looking back, I hadn't confirmed the basis for that. What we saw was several residents gathered and then dispersing, so perhaps they had heard something with a basis, such as a report saying, "It seems the fire started at our place, but there is no fire."

I reflect that I shouldn't have decided it was a "false alarm" until there was a reliable inspection and report from the fire department, security guards, or the building manager. I learned that it is important not to be swayed by the atmosphere around you and to keep your guard up until safety can be confirmed.

In conclusion

After the commotion settled down, the thunder passed, and my two children slept soundly beside me.
That deafening sound and the panic, even though it wasn't an inspection, were truly terrifying even for an adult, but being able to get outside with my children based on that split-second decision was a great experience and confidence booster for me. However, I vowed to act even faster next time.

From now on, I will never hesitate.
Thinking of the "what if," I will carry both of them and escape first without hesitation.

I am writing this article so that I do not forget this important realization and vow.

Can you move without hesitation when the fire alarm goes off?
Please take this opportunity to check your home's fire preparations and evacuation routes once again.

Extra edition

Even though the date has changed and it is sunny outside, I heard that the fire alarm (a false alarm) went off again on the upper floors of the apartment building. We were informed via the building-wide announcement system.
Whether it was due to yesterday's lightning or something else, fire alarm malfunctions are scary.

First, there is the fear that that siren, which tears through the quiet of daily life, might go off again.
Then, there is the anxiety about whether it will actually go off properly in the event of a real fire.
Furthermore, there is the possibility that repeated malfunctions will cause residents to let their guard down, leading them to assume it is just another false alarm when a real fire actually occurs.

You don't want to hear a sound you never want to hear outside of inspection times over and over in your daily life, do you? The alarm goes off from the intercom, but since I'm afraid it will go off again, I've somehow started to avoid getting close to the intercom. (lol)

I hope the issue is resolved soon and we can return to a life where we can feel at ease.