A Visit from the Fire Department, Thanksgiving Morning, 2a.m.

It turns out that, sometimes, carbon monoxide detectors actually work

A stranger saved my life on Thanksgiving morning.

Maybe that’s a little melodramatic. But then, I tend to be a little overwrought where toxic fumes are concerned.

The unknown person in question was walking down 10th Avenue in Denver in the wee hours of Thanksgiving morning, heard an alarm beep…beep…BEEPING, and saw steam whirling from a vent on the facade of the two-story home where our son has an apartment. My wife and I were on the top floor, blissfully sleeping, with visions of Thanksgiving feasts dancing in our heads.

As we dozed, the stranger dialed 911 to anonymously report the beep beep BEEPING, and then continued on his/her way. Who does that? On the street at 1:45am, quite possibly stumbling home after the bars closed, or holding up the 7-11, or masterminding a cranberry-sauce heist, or quite possibly all three, and thinking: What’s that alarm? I’ll just whip out my cell and call the cops.

I’ll tell you who wouldn’t do that: Me. My main religion is Avoidism. Avoid hassle. Av…