When I was little we would run around the hall when the smoke alarm went off. No, it wasn’t a fire drill. It was a way to get the smoke from the burnt toast or food cleared out of the hall. It was great fun. Unfortunately, my Mom didn’t burn many foods so I didn’t get to do it very often. I had it rough, didn’t I?! 
When I was a teen and it wasn’t as much fun to run, I would fan the alarm with a book. At that point it was probably buzzing because of my cooking.
Our hall at this house is just a straight shot so I showed the kids how to fan the alarm with a book. It takes them more fanning them me because they are half as close to the ceiling as I am. My husband just pops the battery out, but he can reach it without a chair – I can’t.
My new kitchen CD player has a built in timer. I decided to try it the other day to time a cake that was baking [chocolate, of course]. I would have gotten it started about five minutes sooner if I wouldn’t have put the instructions in the attic with the box.
Half an hour later the timer went off with a loud BUZZ and I had to figure out how to stop the thing. I got it stopped, picked up my oven mitt, turned around, and saw…
…my oldest daughter and son standing in the hall waving books at the smoke alarm. I laughed out loud. I couldn’t help it. The new timer did sound kind of like the smoke alarm. They had rushed right to my aid.
I made sure to thank them for their help before I explained.
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My house is exactly like that too, except my kids use towels or blankets to fan the alarm. Our alarm is right by the bathroom and steam from a hot shower will set it off. If someone opens the door right after or during someone’s shower- off goes the alarm.
I think that is funny that your timer sounds like the alarm. Think of it as exercise for your kids. LOL!