Firefighters meet Will Ferrell responding to call

NEEDHAM, Mass. (WHDH) -- Funnyman Will Ferrell was celebrating Thanksgiving at a home in Needham when a fire broke out --and he did his best to find some humor in the situation.

Working holidays is never fun. That is, unless you run into Hollywood’s leading funnyman.

For firefighters in Needham, it started with a garage fire at a home around 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

Crews say they arrived to find actor Will Ferrell apparently celebrating the holiday with family.

“He was standing on the front lawn along with the rest of the family until we had the situation under control. And then he went back in the house,” said Rick Laborne.

Laborne admitted he was a little star struck.

“Because he’s one of my favorite actors,” said Laborne.

It took crews about 30 minutes to clean up and clear out the smoke from a small fire that started with a candle and dish towel.

“So they grabbed it, smothered it and just threw it out in the garage, but it wasn't 100 percent out,” said Chief Paul Buckley, Needham Fire Department.

The crew says they were thrilled to get about five minutes of face time with the comedian.

“Afterwards we were telling his wife, I believe, there are a lot of big fans and everything. So she goes, ‘I’ll bring him out to take pictures,’ and it was a little too dark outside, so he invited us in to the family kitchen,” said Lt. Peter Cosgrove.

Firefighters say the actor was gracious.

“Yeah. He was cracking jokes -- he was a lot of fun,” said Laborne.

“You could tell it was him. Big smile on his face,” said Lt. Cosgrove.

It was a Thanksgiving call they will always remember.

“It was definitely a highlight for me. It was probably one of the coolest calls I’ve ever gotten,” Laborne said.

Needham's fire chief had the holiday off, but wishes now he had been working.

He says, coincidentally, he was watching Ferrell’s new movie "The Campaign" the same day.