Firefighter Rob Wilson proposed to teacher Sheldon Thomson in front of their co-workers and hundreds of pupils following a Kamo Primary School fire drill.
The ringing of the fire alarm was followed by a ring of another kind at a Whangarei primary school yesterday, as a firefighter proposed to his teacher sweetheart in front of the whole school.
Rob Wilson had planned his proposal to Kamo Primary School teacher Sheldon Thomson for over amonth, with staff at the Fire Service and the school in on the act.
A banner with "Miss Thomson, will you marry me?" unfurled from a fire truck, sending the hundreds of pupils gathered on the netball court for a fire drill into raptures.
Mr Wilson's floral "allergies" had him wiping the tears away as the proposal went off without a hitch. "School and work management got it all under way. It's been perfect."
The surprise proposal came after a fire evacuation drill for the students.
Mr Wilson bravely went where few modern males venture alone - engagement ring shopping - but said his plan nearly unravelled when the box got wet in his gym bag. "I don't know how to explain it. It's a cluster ring, it's white gold, and it cost me an arm and a leg."
The couple had been dating for 18 months after they "caught eyes across a bar in Auckland and went from there," Mr Wilson said.
In true firefighter style, he was prepared for the worst.
"We joked if she said no, I dunno how fast we could establish water and get it going towards her."
Miss Thomson was "unbelievably surprised and still shaking", but said the gesture was typical of her hyper-romantic partner who often sent flowers and took her on spontaneous dates.
