Two budding Katikati scientists are being praised for their quick thinking actions after accidentally setting fire to a hay bale during an experiment.

Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade were called to a shed fire on Sharp Road, Aongatete, at about 6.15pm on Sunday.

The Fire Brigade were called to Sharp Road, Aongatete on Sunday evening. Photo: File.

Station officer Brendan Gibbs says two teenagers, believed to be aged 12 and 14, were trying out some 'scientific work” with a soldering iron when a hay bale caught alight.

'They noticed the hay bale had caught fire, went out of the shed closing the door behind them and immediately called 111,” says Brendan.

'They did the right thing.”

Brendan says apart from the shed becoming smoke logged there was no immediate danger given the boys' immediate response to seeing the bale on fire – starving the fire of oxygen by closing the shed.

There was no serious damage to the shed.

'The hay bale was only still smouldering so it was a quick, easy fix,” he adds.

'I think it could have got a lot worse if the whole shed had caught fire.”