Former British prime minister Tony Blair and his wife sparked a fire alert when they were trying to cook breakfast at their country home, sending four fire engines racing to the scene, a spokesman said.
Blair and wife Cherie were attempting to make toast early on Saturday at their 17th-century property in Wotton Underwood, southeast England, when the smoke alarm went off.
As the house is on an official list of buildings deemed to be of historic interest, the alarm was automatically connected to the local fire station, said the ex-premier's spokesman on Sunday.
"The Blairs were cooking breakfast when the smoke alarm went off," he said.
"In fact it was just smoke without a fire but by the time Mrs Blair rang the fire service to tell them they didn't need to come, they were already on their way.
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"All rather embarrassing and she'll certainly be sending them a big thank-you note."
The local fire service said three fire engines arrived, and a fourth was on its way before it became clear the alarm was false.
"When they got there, it was basically some burned toast that had set the alarm off, so it was a smaller incident than was first feared," said a spokesman for the service.
"The smoke was cleared with a fan and the firefighters gave some fire safety advice."
