FLC CABIN CREW HEARD SMOKE DETECTOR WARNING RIGHT AFTER LNDG AND TAXIED OFF RWY TO INVESTIGATE. FINDING NO SMOKE; FIRE OR HEAT; THEY CONTINUED TO THE GATE AND DEPLANED THE PAX.

Narrative

UPON LNDG AT SMF WE HEARD A MUFFLED CHIME IN THE CABIN. AS WE SLOWED TO CLR THE RWY THE FLT ATTENDANTS CALLED AND TOLD US AN AFT LAVATORY SMOKE DETECTOR WAS CHIMING. THEY COULD NOT SMELL SMOKE; BUT COULD SMELL SOMETHING UNUSUAL. WE SLOWED ON THE TXWY TO INVESTIGATE THE SIT. WE FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF CIGARETTE SMOKE; OR THE LIKE; AND CONTINUED TO APCH THE RAMP. ONCE ON THE WELL LIT RAMP AREA; I STOPPED THE ACFT TO MAKE A FINAL DETERMINATION WHETHER IT WAS SAFE TO PROCEED TO THE GATE. THE LACK OF HEAT OR OTHER EVIDENCE IN THE LAVATORY AREA CAUSED ME TO GO TO THE GATE AND PARK TO DEPLANE NORMALLY. WE ASKED THE TWR TO SEND CFR ASSISTANCE TO STAND BY; WHICH THEY DID IMMEDIATELY. WE WERE UNABLE TO REACH SMF OPS BY RADIO AND WERE ONLY ABLE TO SIGNAL THE RAMP CREW BY FLASHING THE NOSE LIGHT WHEN WE STOPPED ON THE OPEN RAMP. THESE RATHER SHARP FOLKS QUICKLY SURMISED A POTENTIAL EVAC AND GATHERED THEMSELVES QUICKLY AROUND THE ACFT. I WISH THEY HAD SOME SORT OF PORTABLE RADIO ON WHICH WE COULD HAVE COMMUNICATED IN THE ABSENCE OF ANYONE TO TALK TO IN OPS. THANKS TO THE RAPID RESPONSE OF THE SMF ARPT.