What to do if you see a fire

E wātea ana tēnei whārangi ki te reo Māori
Tirohia ki te reo Māori

If you see smoke or fire and believe there's a risk to people or property, call 111 and ask for 'Fire' immediately. If you're not sure whether it's a real emergency or not, call 111 and ask.

When in doubt, call 111.

What you need to tell Fire and Emergency New Zealand

When you call 111, an operator will ask whether you need Fire, Ambulance or Police. 

Ask immediately for 'Fire'. Ambulance and Police may also attend but the first priority is to get a fire engine on the way.

Always call 111 if you need a fire engine. Don't call your local fire station.

You'll need to give our staff the following information to help us find the fire:

  • House number
  • Street name
  • Nearest intersection
  • Suburb and city
  • Rural Address Property Identification (RAPID) number if you have one

Once we know the location of the fire, we'll ask about the nature of the emergency. We'll probably ask if anyone is injured or trapped. This will help us make sure the first responders are ready to act when they arrive.