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

Black Jack Fire Update #10

This page is available in English
View in English

Black Jack Fire Update #10

14 Kohitātea 2025

Firefighters will return to the Black Jack fireground near Kuaotunu on the Coromandel Peninsula tomorrow to continue extinguishing the vegetation fire that began on Saturday.

Fire and Emergency's drone crew will carry out a second round of thermal imaging flights tonight, looking for new hotspots and checking the sites where crews and helicopters have been working today.

Incident Controller Shane Bromley said that ground crews had dug out most of the deepseated burning that was identified in last night's flights, and had also found several new hotspots during their patrols today.

He thanked the local community and visitors to the area for their support of the firefighting operations and their patience with restricted access along Black Jack Road.

"I would also like to remind people not to use drones in the area during the day when helicopters are flying. We often see people using drones in this popular area over summer, but while we have aircraft working on the fire we would like everyone to keep their drones on the ground. Otherwise we have to stand our helicopters down for safety reasons."

The fire has burned an estimated nine hectares of vegetation on steep terrain along Black Jack Road. It has been challenging for firefighters to work on the slopes in hot and windy conditions.

ENDS

For more information, please contact the Fire and Emergency New Zealand media team.

media@fireandemergency.nz

027 591 8837

Spokespeople also available in te reo.

Back to news hub