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.

Fire & Emergency New Zealand

More kiwi firefighters to deploy to help battle Canadian wildfires

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More kiwi firefighters to deploy to help battle Canadian wildfires

A second group of 21 firefighting personnel from Aotearoa New Zealand will leave tomorrow for Alberta, Canada to help fight wildfires burning across the province.

This Bravo contingent consists of 21 personnel, made up of four five-person arduous firefighting crews, including five personnel from the Department of Conservation (DOC), and a liaison.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand National Commander Russell Wood says the second contingent is being deployed in addition to the seven specialist personnel who landed in British Columbia last week.

"We know that this second contingent will deploy for approximately five weeks. They’ll be firefighting in tough conditions, working hard to keep the communities of Alberta safe," he says.

The situation in Canada is significant, with 861 active wildfires burning across the country as of 8am 29 July NZST. 134 of these are burning across Alberta.

The conditions are challenging, with high heat warnings across western Canada contributing to the rapid spread and increased intensity of the wildfires.

"Given the scale of the emergency in western Canada, it’s likely we’ll receive further requests for support," Russell Wood says.

Fire and Emergency takes the responsibility of providing international firefighting support seriously, but there is also value in using it to improve our firefighters’ skills.

"These deployments are extremely valuable for our firefighters and firefighting specialists. It gives them experience in different environments that they can bring back home," Russell Wood says.