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

Celebrating 30 years of USAR

Celebrating 30 years of USAR

15 October 2025

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is celebrating 30 years since the establishment of its Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) capability.

The milestone is being marked around the country this week at Fire and Emergency’s Northern, Central and Southern USAR bases.

The Central USAR team photographed with the original United States instructors this week in Palmerston North.

Some of the original trainees, as well as the United States-based trainers, from the first NZ USAR course held in 1995 at Linton Army Camp have been in attendance.

Fire and Emergency National Manager Response Capability Ken Cooper says the USAR capability continues to be a crucial function of the organisation.

"Our USAR team has been deployed to disasters such as the Christchurch earthquake, the Kaikoura earthquake, Cyclone Gabrielle, and overseas assisting at tropical cyclones in Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu, floods in the Solomon Islands, and to Papua New Guinea to help with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Both locally and globally we are seeing an increase in both the frequency and severity of the effects of natural hazards.

"All of these phenomena will see an increasing need for the skills and expertise of our USAR teams."

The celebration this week brings together past and present USAR personnel and partner agencies and acknowledges the significant contributions of foundational and current leaders, particularly the original United States instructors, participants, and the programme architect.

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