'97 ranger 2wd odd beeping noise

I have a 1997 ranger xlt 2wd with 2.3 and auto trans and 116k on it.
About 15 seconds after starting the engine, or putting the key in the run position, there is a series of 20 beeps that occur. The beeps are in four groups of 5. The beep noise sounds as if it is coming from the passenger side kick panel near the fuel shut off reset button.

If I remove the 7.5 amp fuse for the airbag, blower relay and the passive deactivation module (PAD), the beeping does not occur, but then the blower doesn't work.

Does anyone know what this beeping means, and is it something to be concerned about?

Thanks to all!!!

Could that be the beeper that tells you to put on your seat belt by any chance?

Sorry, I forgot to mention in the original post that the beeping is NOT the fasten seat belt reminder. I had a feeling someone would respond with this suggestion. After 116k miles I know what the seat reminder sounds like. Thank you. Please excuse my sarcasm if your suggestion was a joke.

You'll probably find that your Airbag indicator lamp isn't illuminating - I believe it should illuminate for a few seconds when the ignition is switched to the 'Run' position. If there's a fault in the system and the lamp isn't working then the system beeps instead, to alert you to the fault condition. On the Escort, it's a series of five sets of five beeps, whilst on other models (early Crown Vic, for example) I've read of it being three sets of five beeps. Your series of four sets of five beeps is probably trying to tell you the same thing - the indicator lamp is not working.

If it's just a blown lamp then replacing it will stop the beeps. If you have another fault condition, it will then proceed to indicate the fault code by flashing the lamp.

This is from the Ford service manual for the Escort:

If a system fault is present and the air bag indicator is malfunctioning, an audible tone will be heard from the air bag diagnostic monitor, indicating that system service is required. The tone is a series of five sets of five beeps. This does not indicate a diagnostic trouble code 55. If the tone is heard, the air bag indicator is inoperative and a system fault that requires repair is present.

Thank you. The airbag light does not light and I get the beep tone. When the airbag light does come on I don't get the beeps. I will check the light flashes to see if there is a pattern there.

Thanks again for your time and knowledge.

This is from the Ford manual for the '97 Escort - I imagine your Ranger will flash a similar pattern:

Diagnostic trouble codes are displayed as a series of flashes and pauses of the air bag indicator. Each diagnostic trouble code (series of flashes) represents a two-digit number. For example, a diagnostic trouble code 32 is displayed as follows:

Three flashes, followed by a one-second pause; then two flashes, followed by a three-second pause.

Three flashes, followed by a one-second pause; then two flashes, followed by a three-second pause.

Diagnostic trouble codes are prioritized numerically so that if two or more different codes occur at the same time, the code having the highest priority will be displayed first. After that code has been corrected, the next highest priority code will be displayed. The code will repeat continuously until repaired.