So the instructor, "seemed a bit frantic," he asked for 29 instead of 21 as a full circuit would be too risky, he crossed the threshold high and fast and then landed hard. OK some of this might be down to perception by an inexperienced observer but if I was in the tower I would certainly be calling out the fire crew.
It is almost axiomatic that you can send the emergency services back if they are not needed but they are useless if they are still in the fire station if they are required.