Hi guys, I have what I think is an interesting question.
I may want to do some video recording at home, including a smoke machine.
It would be just a home video, no commerce, no schedule, just fuckin around.
How do I avoid false alarms with police and fire?
Previous experiences tells me when you air the place out, someone will worry.
But that all happened 100 years ago, 1000 miles from here in another lifetime.
So, how do I hotbox the house and not cause trouble?
Define “smoke machine”.
Most smoke machines (like those used in stage plays) will not set off a smoke detector since it isn’t really smoke (it’s mostly water usually).
Also, home smoke detectors are not usually connected to the fire department. They may be connected to a home security company though. You’d have to check to be sure.
Think again.
I assume you are mainly worried about neighbors and passers-by noticing the smoke and calling 911? If so, why not post a sign outside your house saying a smoke machine is in use?
If you’re planning to use enough smoke that it’s going to be billowing out the windows in large enough amounts that you’re concerned about this, the only thing I can think of is to call the fire department ahead of time to let them know and ask them what they’d like you to do. There’s probably some way for them or you to give the 911 dispatcher and the local non-emergency Police Dept operator (which might be the same person) a heads up. Then when/if someone calls, they can verify the address and/or call you before sending out fire trucks.
At least that’s my guess for that.
Beyond that, I’d suggest keeping the smoke/fog contained to one room of the house so that when you’re done you can open a window and use a box fan to get it out quickly. If you do it fast enough, by the time people are done thinking ‘is that house on fire?’ it’ll have cleared and they’ll forget about it.
Moderator Note
panache45, you should be aware that threadshitting is against the rules. No warning issued, but don’t do this again.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
The problem is you can see smoke from much further away than you can see a sign, and that people may not want to approach a house that is seemingly on fire.
From personal experience this is the right answer. Find the closest fire department near you via Google, or whatever, Maps and call them prior. They will ask for a time frame, make a note of it, and you should be good to go. Also, as Joey P said, the fire department is likely to have other dispatch numbers should they recommend you contact them.
If you happen to be doing this in Los Angeles county, I can help you further.
The informal jerk off nature of what I’m doing makes me not want to post a sign.
I’m in a retirement community. The sign will attract grandpa Simpson.
" We used to get 5 bees for a nickel, and I wore an onion on my belt…"
And I’m guessing more people could see the smoke than the sign.
Not PLANNING to use that much. But past experience tells me it gets out hand quick.
And…come on!
I’m not gonna buy a smoke machine, and not over do it for fun at least once.
Yep. This too
In the end, when equipment is in hand, then I will bother the authorities with my silly doings.
But,I Thought it was interesting.
I couldn’t believe I’ve never heard it bought up, especially since I’ve had shows shut down at clubs for this reason. ( That should have started a convo)
I thought someone would have done this before. I’ve always assumed most home movies, that aren’t porn, were horror or music videos.
Basically, the two types of home film that would use the most smoke.
Great responses so far, and still open to discussion.
Where I work, I needed a hole drilled in a desktop made of some solid surface material like Corian. Before the carpenter drilled the hole, he made a call to the office where the smoke alarms were being monitored to tell them to turn off or ignore (for ten minutes or so) the alarm right above the desk where he’d be drilling.
Smoke machines are exactly what we use to test smoke control systems in atria (i.e., more than one atrium). They set off photoelectronic smoke detectors just fine, and usually set off ionization detectors as well. They also work very well on beam-type detectors that rely on the obscuration principle, but you don’t find too many of those in homes.
Around here people call the 911 non-emergency number and let them know the address of (in our case) controlled burns. This will not stop a FD response but the FD will get a heads up that someone reported a controlled burn at that address, normally only a officer will go to confirm it is not something else.
Another factor just to know is once anyone calls 911, there is a event that has to be closed out. A homeowner can not cancel a fire call, the FD still has to show and close it out.
Damn.
I didn’t want to quote every single person, but each of you just hit me with a new fact:)
Not in L.A., FLA. One letter off. (But if ya like my film, I’ll accept a ticket j/k 
)
I wouldn’t have thought about alarms for drilling a hole, but yes, great idea. I’ll bet he has a funny story about how he learned that.
I didn’t know if foggers would set off alarms, good heads up.
Required response is worrisome.
I would NEVER waste a minute of Emergency Responders time on my stuff.
If the local FD somehow has to respond, even if their cool with it, S.O.P.
I’ll spend the smoke machine money on a better version of Adobe, and add smoke that way.
No wasted resources, let our firemen do something more important even if it’s relaxing a bit.
Emergency Services is tops at my house. I’ve been dumb and clumsy my whooooole life:cool:
It would sure suck if you warned the FD ahead of time, then the smoke machine shorts out, causing a major fire. People keep calling 911 and are told to chill.
I have had the fire dept called on me several times over the years when I barbecue with wood. Now I call them ahead of time and put up a small sign in the front and back of the house. ( SMOKE COMMING FROM BARBECUE ).
I thought about that, that’s why I followed it up with “they can verify the address and/or call you before sending out fire trucks.”
If they get a call, they can contact the OP and he can confirm everything is fine.
In that regard, it’s not that different from cities that require you to call them before having a fire in your backyard. You call them before you start it and you call them again when it’s (100%) out. IIRC, they will occasionally show up to make sure things are under control and you’re following the rules. I know in that city you have to have a hose nearby and turned on (at the spigot) ready to go in case it gets out of control and they will check for that.
WAG, if the OP called the FD ahead of time and someone called 911 thinking it was a real fire, they’d probably send a police car over to check on it before sending out the FD.