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

Family and whānau

Welcome to our whānau! As a family member of a Fire and Emergency volunteer, you play a vital role in our mission to create safe communities and strengthen community resilience across New Zealand. Here’s what to expect and how you can help.

It’s a big commitment

Volunteers respond to many different emergencies with little notice. Call-outs to small fires, medical incidents and motor vehicle collisions mean your volunteer could be away from 30 minutes to two hours. Call-outs to large vegetation or structure fires, flooding, and search and rescue may take much longer.

Brigades vary in the number of call-outs they get. Some may have daily call-outs and operate a roster. Others may attend three to four call-outs a week, or as little as 10 in a whole year. Volunteers also need to attend regular training to keep their skills sharp.

Your support matters

There are many ways you can help your volunteer. You can support them to attend their essential training, where they learn to save lives and work as a team. You can support them to have a nap or an early night if they’ve been on a late call-out, and give them space if they’re tired the next day. You can help them talk about their experiences, or be understanding if they don’t want to. Everyone’s different and needs support in different ways, that’s why you’ll receive information about the best ways to support your volunteer.

Volunteers attend regular training where they practice, learn new skills, and develop the team work they need to safely respond to emergencies. Supporting your volunteer to attend training is key to giving them the skills they need to keep themselves and others safe.

A diverse network of support

Our brigades form very tight and supportive teams, and that includes the family and whānau of our volunteers. Brigades often organise events and ways to help everyone stay connected, like:

  • BBQs and potluck dinners
  • Birthday celebrations and Christmas parties for kids
  • Opportunities for family and friends to visit the station to see what volunteers do
  • Facebook groups that give the brigade crew and families the chance to connect and share.

Being part of the Fire and Emergency whānau means you become part of a New Zealand-wide network of volunteers and their families. You’ll find all sorts of people with similar experiences and a shared pride in the contribution our volunteers make, including yours.

We look forward to welcoming you to our team.