Teenagers set off a smoke machine in their upstairs bedroom, then called out to passers-by for help.
Bystanders called the fire brigade when they saw smoke pouring from the window of a house in Plaistow Close, Whitehawk, Brighton.
Firefighters from in Roedean and Preston Circus arrived to find the teenagers hanging out of the window and pleading for help shortly after 8pm yesterday.
The crews put on breathing gear and prepared to climb up to the window on ladders - but the youths came clean about the smoke generator, of a type used at concerts and night clubs.
Leading Firefighter Steve Andrews said: "It showed a flagrant disregard for the emergency services and for their neighbours.
"There are more important incidents to attend to without having to deal with things like this."
He said the emergency call was made in good faith by passers-by but the call could have delayed the fire crews if a blaze had broken out elsewhere.
He said: "We have no powers to stop this sort of thing. This is often what we are up against."
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