False Alarm (1999)

False Alarm is a magazine story.

Plot
One hot day, James is surprised to see a fire engine pull up by the water tower. The old engine, Angus, explains that because his work is so important The Fat Controller says he can use the railway's water. He adds that the Summer is worst time of year for fires, and that everyone must take care.

James' Driver reads a poster advertising a barbeque and barn dance at the Vicarage, and notes it could fun. When they pass the Orchard later on, they spot a plume of smoke and think one of the haystacks must be on fire. Angus is soon on the scene, but it turns out the smoke was coming from Trevor, who is arranging bales of hay into benches and tables for the dance!

The fire crew do a safety check anyway, discovering the hay bales are too close to the barbeque. When James drops off passengers at the Vicarage later, he apologises to Angus for the false alarm. Angus says James meant well, and if it wasn't for him they wouldn't have heard about the dance!

Characters

 * James
 * Trevor
 * Angus
 * The Vicar of Wellsworth