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.

Lee Valley Fire Update #4

Firefighting has paused overnight at Lee Valley, but heavy machinery operators will be working through the night to cut firebreaks.

The fire is not yet contained, but has not increased in size since earlier this evening, when it was estimated to cover 5 hectares of pine forestry in steep terrain. 

Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Steve Trigg says that seven helicopters will resume the aerial attack in the morning.

Specialist forest firefighting crews from local forestry companies will also be working on the flanks of the fire to establish control lines, supported by heavy machinery.

Conditions are expected to be favourable for firefighting tomorrow, with light winds from the south west.

All the residents who were evacuated this afternoon are in other accommodation tonight. Fire and Emergency briefed them on the situation tonight, and will update them again in the morning. A few residents were escorted home by police briefly this evening to collect personal possessions.

Nelson-Tasman Civil Defence advises that the civil defence centre at the Wanderers’ Clubrooms on Lord Rutherford Drive has closed overnight and will reopen at 8am.

This will be the last update on the fire tonight.