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 Seasons, Fire Danger and permits

Fire Season

Fire seasons are used to inform people about the requirements for or restrictions on lighting fires in the open air, and to manage the use of fire to protect communities from the consequences of unwanted fire.

Fire and Emergency can declare or revoke a prohibited or restricted fire season in an area, and uses its Fire seasons, prohibitions and restrictions policy and associated processes to manage this.

It is important that you know what the current fire season is and understand how you can comply with the safety requirements, before lighting any type of fire.

Fire seasons are applied to geographic zones based on:

  • the fire environment (fuel types, curing, weather, topography, historic trends)
  • fire climatic zones
  • topographical boundaries/features (rivers, roads, coast lines, forest and national park boundaries)
  • fire control considerations.

One of three types of fire season is in force at any time in an area or zone:

Open fire season

  

Fires may be lit in open air, without restriction.

Applies whenever there is not a prohibited or restricted fire season in place.

Restricted fire season

  

Lighting a fire is riskier than usual.

A fire permit is required for most fire types and may also have specific conditions to make sure fires can be safely lit and remain under control.

Prohibited fire season

 

Lighting fires in the open air is not permitted.

Existing fire permits are suspended, though fire permits may still be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Public Conservation Land

PCL is always in a restricted fire season, unless moving into a prohibited season in alignment with the surrounding land. This decision to move into or out of a prohibited fire season is made by Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

Fire Danger

The fire weather index system provides up-to-date weather information about Fire Danger.

We use the fire weather system to predict the chances of a fire starting, spreading, and causing damage on a particular day. This is one of the factors we consider when deciding the fire season status and whether it is appropriate to issue a fire permit or not.

If you're interested in seeing what the fire weather is in your area, visit the Fire and Emergency New Zealand fire weather website. We recommend postponing lighting a fire or operating spark or heat generating machinery when the Fire Danger is Very High or Extreme. 

How to use these before lighting a fire

View your local Fire Season and Fire Danger all in one place using our 3-step tool below. This tool will also tell you if you're on DOC land, any safety requirements, and if you need to check with a landowner or local council before you can light a fire. 

Check it's alright