We've heard plenty of stories about Apple Watches saving lives, but what about HomePods? A new story out of Colorado this month details how one family's HomePod alerted them to a fire in their kitchen in the middle of the night…
Just to be safe, the second-generation HomePod and HomePod mini include a feature called Sound Recognition. When enabled, HomePod can detect the sound of smoke or carbon monoxide alarms in your home and alert you with a notification on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
The feature appears to have come in handy for one family in Colorado Springs, Colorado, whose dog “got a little curious and accidentally turned on the oven when there were some boxes on top,” the Colorado Springs Fire Department said in a Facebook post.
The HomePod then sent a push notification to their iPhone, alerting the family to the fire, and they were able to put out the fire in the kitchen before the fire department arrived.
Fire Engine 23 arrived on scene at 4:47 a.m. to a residence with no visible fire or smoke. Upon investigation, crews did not find a fire, but did find evidence of a fire. The male homeowner was able to put the fire out prior to crews' arrival, but was subsequently transported to a local hospital with smoke inhalation.
No other injuries to humans or pets were reported. After speaking with the homeowner and reviewing security camera footage from the home, it was determined that the puppy, out of curiosity, accidentally turned on the oven and had several boxes placed on top of it.
To enable Sound Recognition on HomePod 2 or HomePod mini:
- Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap “…” then tap Home Settings
- Tap Safety and Security.
- Tap Sound Recognition, then turn on Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms.
One thing I would like to add to this story: Install proper smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. While the HomePod's sound recognition feature is a great feature, there's no substitute for installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home.
Oh, and one more thing: don't blame the innocent puppy in this situation, and don't put the box on the stove.
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