Smoke alarms do funny things when their batteries go kaput... some actually go into a series of beeps, not just the one occasional chirp. The poor elderly callers usually are frantic or at wits end (especially as these events occur usually in the middle of the night as the temp drops and the chemical reactions in the batteries slow down, making them appear flatter..). When they call the Fire Service it usually is their last port of call. So the dispatch goes out to Assist Resident. From there the (MFS Country or CFS Brigade) chooses their own priority and crew and attends as they see fit. If that means one person to walk around the corner, or a full crew in full turnout gear, so be it. That's locally governed.
Some councils have Elderly Assistance Programmes, who will change their batteries once a year, in line with the Fire Services' call to "Change Your Clock, Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery" campaign..some councils do not. However when it is after hours, and the resident has noone to turn to, we are there.
If you don't want to go, put your head back under the pillow and go back to sleep. Or, better still, stop complaining and start your own local assistance programme.
Pumprescue does not need to reply to your post. Firstly PR might not have logged in for a week, or had the chance to reply, but mostly it shouldn't need one. Figure it out.
No, Linc24p, THIS IS NOT A JOKE.
