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

Check old fire sites are fully extinguished

Check old fire sites are fully extinguished

2 September 2021

With strong winds forecast for parts of Southland, anyone who has lit an outdoor fire over the last fortnight is being asked to check it is completely out.

Southland Principal Rural Fire Officer Timo Bierlin says there is a risk that old fires could reignite in the kind of conditions expected over the next few days.

Fire and Emergency is still asking people to avoid lighting outdoor fires in Southland during level 3 lockdown so firefighters don’t have to leave their bubbles to respond to unnecessary call-outs.

"In normal times, we support farmers who are carrying out controlled burning as a land management tool at this time of year," Timo Bierlin says. "At present we would like them to hold off until we are back in alert level 2. And for those who have already been burning, we ask them to please go and check their old fire sites and make sure they are completely extinguished because of the strong winds that are forecast."

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