Wodonga fire crews were called out around midnight after a firework landed in front garden of a home causing a small fire.

While the flames were extinguished before they could spread, Station Officer at Wodonga CFA David Brown said it had the potential to be much worse.

“If it wasn’t for an alert neighbour seeing it, that fire could have gone from the garden to the house,” Mr Brown said.

“It is innocent bystanders who are being affected.

“The family was asleep and were woken with a knock at the door telling them their garden was on fire.”

It was just last week when fire crews fought to contain a large bushfire that threatened the homes of West Wodonga residents.

Mr Brown said people shouldn’t even be playing with sparklers given the drier conditions this year.

“Wodonga has dodged a bullet in the past week with fire and now we have these idiots introducing it again,” he said.

“Something quite serious could come out of something like this, it’s not the time and place for it.”

“We are taking the matter very seriously because we are heading into very dry period and we live in tinderbox.

“Fortunately the people that were playing with fireworks left them behind so the police have taken those as evidence.”

With New Years celebrations rapidly approaching, people who want to see fireworks are encouraged to go to community events such as the New Years Eve party at Raiders football ground.

Police are seeking more information from witnesses on Saturday night’s incident.