BOISE, IDAHO, ENGINE 8 WAS HAVING A BUSY evening on Christmas Eve.  Mostly medical calls, they were running a succession of emergencies when they started fixing a quick dinner, including Idaho’s specialty, Tater-Tots.

Shortly after, another medical assist call came in and away they went.  When they returned from this one they immediately saw a recognizable orange glow coming from the kitchen.  The potatoes became over-cooked and started a small fire in the overhead cabinets.  It was quickly extinguished and damages are confined to the kitchen.

Engine 8 at quarters

All Boise Fire Department stations are designed to cut the power to cooking equipment when the station bells are activated for an emergency call.

“In this case it appears the dispatch center did not know they had returned from the previous call and did not activate their station bell, thinking they were still returning to the station,” Dep. Chief Dave Hanneman said in a media statement.

There were no injuries, but the Tater-Tots were a total loss.

THE WORLD PIE-EATING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN WIGAN, ENGLAND, were thrown into turmoil when Charlie, the organizer’s dog, got into the stock and ate ten of the competition pies.

The event staff is hoping that local bakers can provide replacements in time.  Not just any pie will do, you see.  They have to conform to strict specifications.

Charlie has been taken to a friend’s house to get over his bellyache.

The London Daily Mirror has the (full) STORY.

THE ALICETOWN FIRE STATION IN HUTT CITY, New Zealand, gave their adjoining office building an unscheduled fire drill yesterday when the firefighters burnt their morning tea snack.

They were fixing a tray of cheese-on-toast when everybody had their attention elsewhere.  The cheese started burning and sent a flow of smoke right into the smoke detector which set off the building alarm.  All the people in the office building dutifully evacuated the building and no doubt were entertained by the firefighters’ show-and-tell.

The Dominion Post has the STORY.