Why did this happen on the coldest day of the year?

My day started around 4AM. My dogs got up, which is not unusual, and were roaming around. I hear them ring the bell to go outside. (Yes-they have skills!) All the sudden the smoke alarms start going off. I was already sort of awake and my hubby is totally incoherent when he gets up. He thought it was the alarm. Anyhoo-we scramble and run around. We smell this awful burning smell-like burnt marshmallows or burning rubber. We run around to find the source. Check all the appliances, closets, etc. Attic... So Sherry calls 911. Fire department comes. Checks everything out. They had a cool infrared camera that sees through walls. Through the process of elimination and a little investigation we find out that our electrical heat pump had some sort of mishap. Either some wires burned or a belt burnt off-something. Soooo it's like the coldest day of the year and we have no heat. We have a fireplace, but that's not doing much. The service people are coming after lunch. I'm really counting my blessings. It could have been so much worse. We saw no smoke, but our smoke detectors both upstairs and downstairs went off. We always make sure to change our batteries with the time change. Soooooo-if you forgot-get to it! I'm currently wearing under armour tights under my flannel pj pants. Under armour top, cotton top, sweatshirt, bathrobe, 2 pairs of socks. Can't wait until we have heat again. I'm hoping it's something they can fix on the spot and that we don't have to replace our unit. The fire department said they see this often. Luckily, when I called 911 I told them we couldn't find the source, nor could we see smoke. We did not wake up the neighborhood with sirens. Luckily, they had their big shiney red truck and we have a hydrant in our yard. I was really surprised that we stayed pretty calm and the dogs didn't totally freak out when this happened. Last time we had a problem with our heat pump-4 years ago-things came in threes. My water heater leaked all over our basement the previous day and I put a huge hole in the ceiling. Knock on wood for me! __________________

Sherry, Sorry to hear about your lack of heat problem happening today...I do feel for you!! Hopefully, this will not be the first of three's, but be the only mishap that happens!! Good luck with the heat, and hoping that it comes back soon... Take care and may God bless you. Norma

Stay Warm Sherry! I just read your profile! You are amazing! I have a list of things I want to accomplish when I lose weight after I have surgery and run the peachtree roadrace is one thing on it. But look at you running a marathon!! I am impressed. Your photos are beautiful!

Did ya get everything fixed?? I hope so! Dee Dee