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

Walter Peak Update #7

Walter Peak Update #7

8 October 2026

Cooler temperatures and light rain overnight have helped suppress the vegetation fire at Walter Peak, providing firefighters with more favourable conditions as operations continue today.

An early morning flight found that the fire has significantly reduced, with no visible flames observed around the fire perimeter.

District Commander Blair Kiely says this is a positive sign and reflects the progress being made by firefighters, but he emphasises the fire is not out and firefighters will continue working to identify and extinguish hotspots.

Ground crews are back on the fireground today supported by helicopters, focusing on hotspot suppression and strengthening containment around the fire perimeter.

This has been a large and highly visible fire in the Queenstown Lakes area, burning approximately 1,400 hectares of mainly tussock, scrub and some tree cover. At no stage was there a risk to Queenstown or lakeside communities. No homes, buildings, or livestock have been lost as a result of the fire and Blair Kiely says crews are encouraged by the progress being made.

Fire and Emergency has been working closely with landowners, the Department of Conservation, local iwi, and other partners throughout the response to identify and protect areas and values most at risk. "While our priority has been to protect structures and livestock, we are very conscious of the environmental impact of vegetation fires," Blair Kiely says.

Air operations remain an important part of the firefighting effort, and Fire and Emergency is asking boaties and members of the public to continue supporting crews by staying clear of operational areas. Exclusion zones remain in place for the safety of helicopter pilots, firefighters, and the public.

Blair Kiely says firefighters, helicopter pilots and incident management personnel, and support crews have worked tirelessly in challenging conditions over the past several days.

Fire and Emergency investigators will undertake a formal investigation to determine the cause of the fire, in line with standard procedures.

ENDS

For more information, please contact the Fire and Emergency New Zealand media team.

media@fireandemergency.nz

027 591 8837

Spokespeople also available in te reo.

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