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

Firefighters deployed to help fight large wild fire in the Chathams

Firefighters deployed to help fight large wild fire in the Chathams

2 February 2018

Principal Rural Fire Officer Craig Cottrill says two teams of five specialist rural firefighters and four incident management team specialists will fly via charter aircraft at 3pm on Saturday 3 February with fuel, equipment and supplies for a two-week deployment. Two helicopters with monsoon bucket capacity are also set to arrive on the island early tomorrow afternoon.

They will join eight Fire and Emergency volunteers, four Department of Conservation staff, and three local contractors working to contain the fire.

Ground observers estimate the fire to be roughly 2000ha in size. At this stage it is believed to have started to burn into conservation land, however the true extent of the fire will be able to be determined once additional crews are on the ground.

While the fire is currently burning towards the southern coast, a wind change to the north has been forecasted overnight. Accordingly, 19 households along the Waitangi Wharf – Owhenga Road have been evacuated to a welfare centre operated by the Chatham Council Civil Defence as a precaution overnight.

More information will be released when it becomes available.

—ENDS—

For more information contact:

Joss Debreceny | Senior Communications Advisor, Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Email: media@fireandemergency.nz, Mobile: +64 (0)27 591 8837

Images courtesy of NZ Defence Force.

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