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

Six-person team to assist with wildfire response in Canada

Six-person team to assist with wildfire response in Canada

5 August 2026

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is deploying six incident management specialists to Canada this week to support the country’s response to extensive wildfires.

The six personnel are part of an Australasian team requested by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre under a long-standing agreement between Canada, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand to provide mutual assistance with wildfire suppression.

A Liaison Officer left for Winnipeg yesterday (Tuesday) and the other five depart tomorrow (Thursday) for Vancouver, where they will be assigned to incident management teams working on fires in British Columbia.

Each is a specialist in aspects of managing large-scale wildfires. Two will be filling Division Commander positions and the others will be stepping into roles as Logistics Chief, Safety Officer and Helicopter Supervisor.

Canada is currently experiencing extreme wildfire activity with 484 active wildfires and over 2 million hectares affected. Our specialist team will provide much needed relief and assistance to the local resources. 

This is New Zealand’s second deployment to North America this fire season. Five incident management team members travelled to the United States last month and are working on fires in Idaho. An indicative request has been received from the US for a second contingent and Fire and Emergency is considering availability of personnel in case that request is formalised.

Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler said that Fire and Emergency was able to provide support to other countries without diminishing its capability to respond to any large-scale emergencies at home. 

Wildfire deployments to North America take place during the southern winter and by joining with Australia to make up incident management teams, New Zealand’s contribution was proportionate to its resources. Partner agencies including Department of Conservation, NZ Defence Force and the forestry industry also regularly contribute their staff to international wildfire deployments.

“The international agreements we have in place allow us to be a good global citizen and lend support where we can. In return our people bring back valuable experience that enhances New Zealand’s own capability to manage large-scale incidents,” Megan Stiffler said. “Given the predictions for a challenging fire season here, these opportunities to be part of wildfire management in Canada and the US couldn’t be more timely.”

Back to news hub