Had it not been for the vigilant resident the whole fire station could have gone up, causing untold embarrassment to the fire brigade.

Just to play it safe the Fish Hoek Fire Brigade called the Simon's Town Fire Brigade to supply back-up.

It was a truly embarrassing day for the officer on call, Joseph Johnston, who could do little but shrug his shoulders and laugh off the irony.

He explained that the blaze did not occur in the fire station itself but in the living quarters above it. The flat in question belongs to
fireman Neville Ambler, who is in Durban. Johnston said: "The fire was concentrated mainly in the living area and we managed to bring the blaze under control quickly.

"These things happen.

"I bet you think it's real funny, hey?" Johnston added.

No one was injured in the blaze, but the flat was badly damaged by smoke.

In defence of the firefighters, Johnston said the men had been in the house next door when the blaze started.

He added that they were not sure what started the blaze. Two doors away, Dave Reid was having a birthday braai for his 13-year-old son Michael when he noticed the flames.

"I went running into the house and shouted to my wife Jean that there was a fire," he said.

"She told me to call the fire department and I told her, 'You don't understand, it's the fire station that's on fire'."

Reid joked that he had a reputation among his friends for making big braais.

"My mate was telling me that when they were driving here they saw the smoke from the fire station and thought, Dave Reid's at it again," he said.

Jean Reid said they heard windows popping and saw flames leaping out of the windows.

A policeman at the scene said when they received the call from the fire department they couldn't believe it.

"I thought it was a hoax. It's really embarrassing for them."

Written by Igsaan Salie