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

Fire and Emergency received calls for 18 incidents during today’s strike

Fire and Emergency received calls for 18 incidents during today’s strike

7 August 2026

Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 18 incidents between 12 pm and 1pm today, Friday 7 August, the fifty-second time the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has taken strike action.

Of the 18 incidents, 12 were in areas impacted by the strike.

Four were medical events that were attended to by Hato Hone St John & Wellington Free Ambulance, as per contingency planning. Four were minor incidents. Three were false alarms. One was for a small outdoor rubbish fire.

One was for a structure fire at Lookout Point in Dunedin that Fire and Emergency was alerted to at 12.40. An Assistant District Commander arrived at 12.50 to find the house well involved in fire. Volunteer fire crews were deployed from Ravensbourne, Outram, Port Chalmers and Brighton due to paid firefighters being on strike.

Lookout Point paid station is approximately one minute’s drive away from the house fire.

The first volunteer crew took eight minutes to get to the house fire.

At the conclusion of NZPFU industrial action, paid crews from Lookout Point and Roslyn Stations left Dunedin Fire Station and took five minutes to arrive.

There were no other callouts in Dunedin at this time and our network approach means other volunteer crews were available to provide cover if needed.

"Thankfully there were no people in the dwelling, however we recognise the significant impact this will have on the residents, Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says.

"We have repeatedly warned about the risk the NZPFU is placing the public in every time it goes on strike.

"We acknowledge and appreciate the dedication of the volunteers and Operational Commanders who responded to this incident and the Communication Centre Managers who coordinated the response. We also recognise the volunteers and staff across the country who have managed the 52 strike responses to date.

"We continue to call on the NZPFU to call off these reckless strikes and have asked it to urgently return to independent facilitation so we can make progress toward a fair and sustainable settlement.

"Fire and Emergency remains committed to achieving a fair and sustainable settlement so we can continue working to keep communities safe,

"As we have unfortunately seen today, emergency responses will be delayed when strike action takes place," Megan Stiffler says.

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