Otago - Fire and Emergency

17/09/2026

Tomorrow, between 12pm and 1pm, members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union will be stopping work for one hour.

We will continue to answer 111 fire calls.

Volunteer stations in the affected cities and towns will respond, as they regularly do when there are multiple emergencies.

If you are at home, do not leave cooking unattended. Make sure you have working smoke alarms in every bedroom, hallway, and living area.

If there is a fire, get out, stay out, and call 111.

If you are at work, know your building evacuation plan. If there is a fire or the fire alarm sounds, exit the building, assemble at your safe meeting place and call 111.

If you are on a job site that uses spark or heat generating tools, we ask you to refrain from using these tools during this hour.

It is important to acknowledge that this strike action will not affect the parts of the country served by our volunteers.

If you are unsure whether your area is affected, please visit https://shorturl.at/thoU5

24/08/2026

Investigations are underway to establish the cause of Saturday night’s vegetation fire in Albert Town, and we’re looking for some help from people living nearby or who were in the area at the time.

It’s too soon to say if the circumstances are suspicious – at this stage our investigators are working to confirm where and how the fire started.

Here’s how you can help: Email the fire investigation team [email protected]
• If you were in the area shortly before 7.30pm when the fire was reported, and you saw anything that may be relevant
• If you have photos or video from the early stages of the fire – especially anything taken around the lagoon end of the reserve south of Lagoon Avenue, between 7.15pm and 7.45pm.

Information will be treated in confidence.

You can also PM us on this page.

Wanaka Volunteer Fire Brigade Queenstown Lakes District Council

22/08/2026

Albert Town vegetation fire update
Firefighters have a vegetation fire under control in Albert Town Wanaka tonight using eight firefighting trucks and three support vehicles.
However, conditions are very windy and firefighters are still dealing with hotspots, flare-ups and ember transfers.
The fire in around one kilometre of trees and scrub alongside houses was reported at 7.28pm this evening.
No houses have caught fire, although initially it was thought seven to eight properties were threatened and Police evacuated twenty-two homes. People have not yet been cleared to return to their homes.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand is working with Police and Civil Defence.
The cause of the vegetation fire is not known yet.
People are reminded to check www.checkitsalright.nz for fire safety advice.

Stay safe and reduce the risk of fire over summer. Find out what you need to do before you light a fire outdoors and whether you need a fire permit.

22/08/2026

Albert Town vegetation fire
Fire and Emergency crews are responding to a vegetation fire in Albert Town, Wanaka tonight.
Eight trucks are now at the incident, as well as additional support vehicles. The latest information shows that no houses are threatened and multiple points of attack are underway.
We will provide an update when we have further information from the scene.

23/07/2026

Early yesterday morning we came together to celebrate Matariki with a hautapu ceremony, where we remembered our colleagues, family and friends who passed away in the last year, and looked forward to the new year. In accordance with Māori custom, the steam from the offering of food rose up to feed the stars of Matariki.

05/07/2026

Update 11.10am:
We are continuing to support civil defence in the areas affected by flooding, and most particularly in Oamaru this morning.

Please stay up to date with MetService New Zealand forecasts and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Otago & Southland for your area and anywhere you are travelling. Your local council will have updates on local road closures.

Oamaru Volunteer Fire Brigade Waitaki Volunteer Fire Brigade Waitati Fire Brigade Waikouaiti Volunteer Fire Brigade Mosgiel Volunteer Fire Brigade Outram Volunteer Fire Brigade

Sunday:
With coastal Otago under heavy rain warnings and inland Otago expecting heavy snow, Fire and Emergency is ready to support our communities tonight, as always.

If life or safety is at risk, always call 111 straight away.

Follow the advice from your local council and civil defence, and avoid non-urgent travel.

Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management Clutha District Council Dunedin City Council Waitaki District Council Queenstown Lakes District Council Central Otago District Council

05/07/2026

Snow - whether you love it or hate it, here are some tips to stay safe if the power goes out at your place.

Torches are safer than candles. If you don’t have access to torches, or they run out of battery, take care to use candles safely:
• Always place them on a heat-resistant surface and firmly in a holder.
• Keep them away from anything that could catch fire like curtains, furniture or clothing.
• Keep them out of the reach of children and pets.
• Put them out before you leave a room and before you go to bed.

Prepare for your power coming back on by making sure all light switches, power outlets and cooking appliances are switched off.

Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Station Wanaka Volunteer Fire Brigade Lake Hawea Volunteer Fire Brigade Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade Middlemarch Volunteer Fire Brigade Ranfurly Volunteer Fire Brigade

19/06/2026

If you’re looking for more than “just a job” and you’re keen to know your work is making a real difference to people in your community every day, the time is right to consider a career as a firefighter.

Applications for positions in our Dunedin and Invercargill brigades close on 5 July, with physical testing in Dunedin in mid July.

If you’re physically fit, calm under pressure and a genuine team player, then check out the details here: www.fireandemergency.nz/work-or-volunteer-for-us/become-a-career-firefighter/.

Photos below show (left) a firefighter in breathing apparatus at a house fire, and some of the physical tests that applicants undertake as part of the recruitment process to become a career firefighter.

15/06/2026

It's National Volunteer Week and we're taking the opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to the 906 people who choose to serve their communities as a member of a Volunteer Fire Brigade in Otago.

Our volunteers give their time in many ways: firefighters, medical first responders and in operational support and brigade support roles. And as Acting District Commander Laurence Voight says, our volunteers turn out to all manner of incidents including fires, severe weather, rescues, vehicle crashes and medical events.

We also give a huge shout-out to the families, employers and co-workers of our volunteers, who all support and enable them to answer the call of the siren and pager.

If you've every thought about becoming a volunteer with Fire and Emergency, here's a good place to start. https://www.fireandemergency.nz/work-or-volunteer-for-us/volunteering/

27/05/2026

Coming at ya, Dunedin!
Our MAN Angloco Type 3 fire truck is now in service – the first to become operational in Otago.
Firefighters trained on the new truck several weeks ago to learn its advanced technology, which includes an electronic pressure control management for pumping water, and more sophisticated instrumentation that allows pumping to be controlled from three places.
The truck is part of the Dunedin City Station fleet.