Two Oamaru teens have been referred to Youth Aid after they allegedly started a fire while playing with matches at Cape Wanbrow.
Oamaru Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Steve Couper said in such dry conditions, the boys, aged 13 and 14, ''need to be thankful they weren't hurt '' in Sunday's fire.
Two spot fires had also been sparked more than 120m from the main blaze.
''That's usually an indication of pretty extreme weather conditions ... it's extremely dry and it's getting drier all the time.''
Had the call not come in to the Fire Service early, or if the blaze had taken off before the fire appliances arrived at 1.25pm, the two boys ''could well have been caught in either the smoke or the fire''.
One of the teens visited members of the brigade on Sunday, while the other was expected to see them last night.
''I've spoken to the one lad about the straight dangers of playing with matches, but also the fact they were on a hillside where fires take off in a hurry,'' Mr Couper said.
''I said to the young guy, he could've ended up coming out in a body bag, rather than being safe and well ... it could've been the case.''
Acting Sergeant Blair Corlet, of Oamaru, said police officers spoke to the two teens on Sunday.
Mr Couper said the pair ''might be able to do a bit of clean-up work for us [at the Oamaru Fire Station]''.
Sunday's fire drew more than 20 firefighters, from Oamaru, Weston, Kakanui and Waitaki. They spent about four hours controlling the main fire and the two spot fires, and then dampening down.
''It's getting drier out there and people need to be very wary if they're lighting fires, that they do extinguish them.''
The Fire Service received multiple calls about the Cape Wanbrow fire and Mr Couper thanked everyone who called.
''People didn't take any chances, so we certainly got two crews on the way pretty quickly.''
