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

Waipara update #8

Waipara update #8

5 September 2024

Fire crews have begun work at the Waipara fire to ensure the site is ready to hand back to the landowner tomorrow (6 September).

Incident Commander Brian Keown says to achieve this the crews will concentrate on the remaining hotspots near the fire edge and securing the skid sites.

"We will also have the drone team onsite today ensuring all hotspots are still out, looking for any remaining unidentified hotspots and confirming the fire perimeter."

Weather conditions are favourable for firefighters with light northwest winds and relatively low temperatures. There are 50 Fire and Emergency personnel on site today.

"On behalf of all the firefighters and Incident Management Team we would like to thank the greater Waipara Community for their support, generosity, and assistance over the last week. It’s been incredible," Brian Keown says.

The Canterbury District (north of the Rakaia River to just north of Clarence River) continues to have a prohibition on open air fires under section 52 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 until 11.59pm on Monday 9 September.

This will be the only update today unless there are significant developments. We will provide a final update tomorrow. 

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