Editor,

Deputy Chief Charlie Smith, with Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue, went above and beyond in the line of duty on Thursday, Feb. 16.

I work for a pest control company in Oak Harbor. At about 8:30 a.m. that Thursday, we heard a call over the scanner about a beeping smoke alarm that was continually going off at a residence south of Coupeville. Our first work order for the day happened to be at that same residence.

The resident, an elderly woman, probably called 911 because she is unable to change the battery herself.

When my work partner Kevin and I arrived at her home, I went to the door to make sure she was OK. She informed me that she was. I could still hear the smoke alarm beeping.

She informed me that all was good and that someone from the fire department was bringing fresh batteries. Sure enough, just before we left, a Central Whidbey command car pulled up and out came Charlie Smith with a bag of batteries. I told him about hearing the scanner call and we both had a chuckle.

I would like to thank him for going out of his way to help, because it probably would have meant that Kevin and I would be returning with batteries for her on our way home later that day.

Congratulations, and thank you, Charlie, for going out of the way to help her.

Steve Gavigan

Oak Harbor