A firefighter set a dramatic scene when he faked a blaze in his own house to propose to his college sweetheart.

Zach Steele, 30, sent his girlfriend Maddison Ridgik, 30, into a panic when their attic appeared to go on fire in the midst of a family holiday party.

The fireman, of Ventura, California, had sneakily placed six remote-operated smoke machines in the attic before disappearing to pick up groceries Maddison had forgotten at the store.

But instead of driving to the grocery store, Zach raced to Ventura County Fire Station, where his firefighter pal Brian Mulvehill had roped his colleagues into the elaborate rouse.

The firefighters hopped onto the rig just as Maddison’s stepdad Johnny Jenson flicked on the smoke machines and urged the party goers to evacuate the building.

As the fire truck turned the corner, Zach immediately saw Maddison, a teacher, panicking on the lawn as smoke dramatically billowed out of the two-story home.

The fireman approached Maddison from behind before removing his gear and dropping to one knee to ask the all-important question.

Steele said: “When we got there, Maddison’s stepdad Johnny was pretending to put out the fire with a hose.

“There was way too much smoke, it was crazy. It filled up the attic and the entire garage. Everyone was in the front yard and I could see Maddison was on the phone panicking. I had seven missed calls.

“All the other guys hopped out but I stayed in the engine for about a minute. I could see her back to me as I approached, but I had my mask on so she didn’t recognize me.

“When I grabbed her waist, she spun around and I took off my mask. She had a look of pure shock and confusion on her face. Her hands were shaking as she tried to figure it all out.

“She turned away from me and she turned back around I was on one knee. I asked her to marry me and Thank God she said yes."

A firefighter set a dramatic scene when he faked a blaze in his own house to propose to his college sweetheart.

Zach Steele, 30, sent his girlfriend Maddison Ridgik, 30, into a panic when their attic appeared to go on fire in the midst of a family holiday party.

The fireman, of Ventura, California, had sneakily placed six remote-operated smoke machines in the attic before disappearing to pick up groceries Maddison had forgotten at the store.