A Ttsunami siren sounded over the Little Mt Iron suburb of Wanaka last night.
At more than 300m above sea level there was no concern about a threat from the sea.
But the mobile siren, borrowed from the Waitaki District Council, gave residents and firefighters an idea of how effective sirens would be at warning residents if their kanuka-clad slopes caught fire.
The siren sounded as a smoke bomb was let off. Within a couple of minutes the Wanaka Volunteer Fire Brigade was on the way and the evacuation of about 17 homes had begun.
Residents had been briefed about the fire drill and Department of Conservation staff were on hand to monitor their reactions.
Doc rural fire officer Patrik Eschenmoser, who was running the trial, added an element of confusion by having vehicles drive up the narrow winding roads as evacuees were coming down.
However, resident Kris Vollebregt said everyone did as they were supposed to and walked to their assembly points.
As a member of the group pushing for sirens to be installed, Ms Vollebregt was satisfied with the test. The siren was heard well enough in the immediate area, and in places beyond.
As a test of an alternative way of raising the alarm, a cellphone group text was sent to 26 people - but five did not receive it.
Concern about the Mt Iron fire risk was heightened in March by a fire in the nearby Hikuwai Conservation Area that also sparked a fire in a house 150m downwind.
A Doc spokeswoman said yesterday the fire investigation report would be completed by next week and then the department would do some remedial planting along the boundary fence with neighbours.
Wanaka police have said they suspected children might have been responsible for three fires in the Albert Town area around the time of the Hikuwai fire.
