Vigilant neighbours twice in an hour sent Featherston firefighters scrambling to what turned out to be false alarms in the town early yesterday morning.
Featherston fire chief Colin McKenna said the first call involved "a monstrous fire" at a Boundary Rd property just after 7am yesterday.
He said it was a permitted burn-off of accumulated rubbish and firefighters were stood down soon after arriving at the scene.
Featherston firefighters were scrambled to Featherston School less than an hour later after another call reporting smoke was fielded in the town. The fire crew discovered on arrival that a hangi had been put down on the school grounds and six to eight people were at the scene tending to the meal.
"It does make you wonder why a fire call would go out with so many people standing around but you can't knock anyone for being vigilant," said Mr McKenna.
