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

Volunteer with us

80% of our workforce are volunteers – that’s more than 11,800 people giving their time to support communities across New Zealand. In return, they gain new skills, a sense of purpose, and a team that’s got their back.

Our volunteers are essential

We rely on volunteers in nearly 600 stations nationwide, to help communities prevent, prepare, respond and recover from emergencies. As well as firefighting, our volunteers attend medical incidents, motor vehicle accidents, severe weather events and other requests for help. We also install and check smoke alarms and help to improve fire safety in our communities.

Our volunteer brigades are made up of locals who have different professions and skills, with one thing in common - to be there for their community.

If you’re a team player, would like to learn new skills, and keep your community safer, we would love to hear from you. We’re always looking for volunteers to join us from a wide range of backgrounds and welcome people who are genuinely interested in helping others.

It takes all sorts to make a brigade

In any of our nearly 600 Volunteer Fire Brigades, you’ll find volunteers as diverse as the communities they protect. We’ve got farmers, tradies, teachers, and techies. People who can fix anything, thrill-seekers, skill-seekers, office workers, and community-minded locals - all playing their part to keep their brigade ready to answer the call.

Whatever your role, you’ll be a key member of a tight and dedicated team that fights fires, attends incidents, deals with severe weather events, installs smoke alarms, helps kids sit behind the wheel of the fire engine, and does all the other things that make volunteering a fresh challenge every day.

If you’re a team player willing to pitch in and learn more, you’re the sort we’re looking for!

Want to join us?

Register your interest to volunteer

In this section

  • Different ways to volunteer

    There are four different roles all essential to supporting our brigades. When you express your interest, you can tell us which roles appeal to you.

  • Benefits of volunteering

    There are many reasons why people volunteer. Some join because they want to contribute in their community, others join to be part of a team and to learn new skills.

  • What it takes to volunteer

    Volunteering is rewarding, and it also takes commitment. Check our requirements to see if volunteering with us is right for you.

  • Becoming part of a brigade

    Once you’ve registered your interest in volunteering with us, we’ll match you to your local brigade. There are six steps to becoming part of a volunteer fire brigade.

  • Family and whānau

    If you’re part of a volunteer’s family and whānau, it’s helpful to know a bit more about what they do and how you can support them.

  • Employers of volunteers

    Every working day, hundreds of businesses and organisations across New Zealand support our brigades by allowing their employees to respond to incidents.