to major problems when real emergencies occur.

And they have appealed to people burning their trash or leaves to have the courtesy to inform them first.

Twice over the weekend firefighters from Hamilton were called out when residents reported fires on the Island.

But on both occasions they arrived to find the blazes had been started by people simply getting rid of rubbish, and were under control.

On the first occasion, seven firemen in two vehicles rushed to Brighton Hill Road in Devonshire, only to discover four separate fires started by residents who were burning leaves.

Then someone in Hamilton looked across the harbour and thought they saw a fire at the Palm Reef Hotel, but two trucks carrying 10 men arrived to find more controlled burning in Salt Kettle.

Lt. Jon Thompson, at Hamilton Fire Station, said: "The good Samaritan saw a fire and reported it. We attended because we had no idea there was going to be controlled burning in the area.

"While we were dashing to both these incidents a real emergency could have been happening somewhere else.

"It gets to be a bit of a nuisance because all it takes is a little bit of effort to phone and inform the fire station that they are going to start a fire which they will have under control, and a hose standing by.''