Our 3-Step Escape Plan

  • First Escape Route
  • Second Escape Route
  • Meeting Place
Notes

Use this space to note any additional information about your escape plan, i.e. who will assist

Your checklist

  • Get low

    Smoke is poisonous and more deadly than flames.

    If you breathe smoke for more than a few breaths it can kill you.

  • Be fast

    A house fire can kill you in less than three minutes.

    Don't spend time trying to save possessions.

  • Close doors

    A closed door buys you time.

    It slows down the spread of fire, giving you more time to get to safety.

  • Get out - stay out!

    People have died by going back into a fire.

    Don't leave the meeting place to go back inside for any reason.

Call emergency services as soon as you are out and safe. Ask for FIRE.

Clearly state your address and let the operator know it anyone is still inside or has not made it to the safe meeting place.

Emergency call 111 Emergency text 111
Fire & Emergency New Zealand

Caution urged with controlled burns

Caution urged with controlled burns

15 September 2023

Fire and Emergency is urging people to remain vigilant when they’re burning off paddocks and vegetation with high winds forecast across the country this weekend.

On Thursday alone, a helicopter was needed to fight an out of control burn near Cheviot, Canterbury, while in Clutha, Otago, a vegetation fire was started by a reignited burn.

A restricted fire season has already been declared for the Upper Waitaki and Central fire zones of Otago, with fire permits suspended for those areas until Sunday at 8am due to very high fire danger.

In the last 30 days in Hawke’s Bay, there have been 13 fires caused by controlled or previous burns.

Earlier this week in Canterbury, a controlled burn spread to a boundary hedge and then set fire to the roof of a house.

There have also been fires started by controlled or previous burns in Southland and Mid-South Canterbury recently.

Fire and Emergency acting Service Delivery Wildfire Manager Rachael Thorp says people should exercise caution when completing a burn.

"Ensure you check the weather conditions before you burn and if you’re in any doubt, then hold off until more favourable conditions are present.

"If you’ve already completed a burn, we urge you to continue to check it as the chance of reignition is high.

"It’s important to remember burying embers under dirt may not extinguish the fire. Especially with the high winds predicted this weekend, this can disturb the soil, pick the embers up and carry them in the win to other ignition sources.

People should also exercise caution when lighting any bonfires or rubbish fires. Check the weather and don’t burn if the conditions are windy or hot.

While fire season changes are yet to take place for most of the country, people should not allow an open fire season to make them complacent, Rachael Thorp says.

"Every fire comes with risk. For fire safety tips, and to check the fire danger in your area, go to www.checkitsalright.nz."

Back to news hub