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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.

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Fire & Emergency New Zealand

Fire danger increasing across Taranaki

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Fire danger increasing across Taranaki

16 Kohitātea 2025

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is sounding a fire warning for Taranaki because of warm, windy conditions heading into the weekend.

Taranaki Community Risk Manager Christine McGinty says a lack of rain over the past week coupled with the forecast warm, windy weather means the fire danger is increasing across the region.

"The vegetation is rapidly drying out," she says.

"While we haven’t met the triggers for entering a restricted fire season (where a permit is needed for any open-air fire), caution should still be taken with the windy conditions."

Christine McGinty says people should choose carefully which days they are going to light any open-air fires, such as controlled burns or rubbish fires.

"You can do this by visiting www.checkitsalright.nz to see if it is safe to have a fire on a given day at your address. This includes things such as braziers and pizza ovens.

"If you are going to light an outdoor fire, make sure you don’t light more than one at a time and don’t leave it unattended.

"Wait for it to burn out and then dampen down the burn area. Make sure the fire is fully extinguished.

"Keep piles small and monitor old burn sites regularly for reignition, especially in coastal areas."

Christine McGinty says that while there is some wet weather predicted for next week it may not be enough to reduce the level of fire danger and all care should continue to be taken when lighting an open-air fire.

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