Hawke's Bay - Fire and Emergency

03/09/2026

Strong winds are forecasted for Hawke’s Bay.

🚫 Please don’t light outdoor fires.
💧 Check old burn sites are completely out.

One spark can quickly become a fire. Stay safe and help protect our community.

👉 For more information visit: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home

31/08/2026

Update: Large vegetation fire in Central Hawke's Bay.

Our firefighters remain busy responding to vegetation fires in these windy conditions. We now have two additional vegetation fires, with extra appliances and personnel called in to assist.

We urge residents to check old burn piles and previous burn sites, particularly in exposed areas. Embers can remain active leading to new fires.

30/08/2026

🚒 Firefighters are currently responding to two large vegetation fires in Central Hawke's Bay, with 22 fire appliances working across both incidents.

💨 Strong winds increase the risk of reignition. Please check burn piles and old burn sites, as yesterday's burn can quickly become today's fire.

✅ Check all burn piles and previous burn sites thoroughly.
✅ Turn over material and look for heat, smoke, or embers.
✅ Fully extinguish any hotspots with water.

Before lighting a fire, always check the conditions and whether a permit is required at www.checkitsalright.nz

30/08/2026

💨 Looks like Mother Nature has scheduled a bin-flipping, trampoline-testing, outdoor-furniture-shuffling session for tonight.

‼️ Not to sound like a broken record… but check those burn piles, ensure they’re fully extinguished! 🔥

⚠️💨 STRONG WIND WARNING – Hawke's Bay south of Hastings, and the Tararua District 💨⚠️

30 August 2026, 9:57am

MetService New Zealand has issued a Strong Wind Warning for Hawke's Bay south of Hastings, and the Tararua District from 7:00pm Sun 30 Aug to 5:00pm Mon 31 August.

Severe gale westerlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.
Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

⚠️Strong wind gusts like these could damage trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures.

🚗 Take extra care on the roads (especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles)

🏠♻️🗑 🪑 Secure any outdoor items like wheelie bins, trampolines and outdoor furniture that may blow around.

Keep an eye on the weather and visit https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home for the latest updates.

Hastings District Council - Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Heretaunga Central Hawke's Bay District Council

25/08/2026

🔥 Thinking about lighting a burn pile this weekend?

Before you strike that match, run through this simple checklist:

✅ Check it's alright to burn
✅ Let Fire and Emergency know
✅ Watch the weather
✅ Burn early in the day
✅ Keep water on hand
✅ Continue checking the burn site for 5 days afterwards

Many escaped vegetation fires start from burn piles that weren't fully extinguished. Taking a few extra precautions can make all the difference.

Learn more at checkitsalright.nz

12/08/2026

✅ Do you have any large burns planned?

✅ Or are you planning a large burn such as a burn pile, skid site, forestry slash or any other large burn?

✅ Now is the time to undertake these fires, with the prediction of an El Nino summer approaching.

❗️Information below:

🔥 El Niño could bring a dangerous fire season for NZ.

An El Niño is forecast, bringing drier conditions through late winter and a warmer, drier and windier summer, particularly in our District.

This could mean a much higher wildfire risk, with escaped fires becoming harder to control. Fire restrictions and prohibitions may need to be introduced earlier this year.

🔥 If you have a large burn planned, now is the time to get it done. Large piles can smoulder for a long time, so make sure they are completely extinguished before fire danger increases.

If you can’t burn the whole pile, reduce the size and feed the fire gradually.

📲 Let us know when you’re lighting your burn:
0800 658 628 or checkitsalright.nz

Let’s stay safe and reduce the risk of escaped fires this summer.

10/06/2026

Winter is the season for house fires.

As the temperature drops, preventable house fires increase 17 percent on average as people do what they can to keep themselves warm.

Most of these fires will start from items such as clothing, beds or couches being too close to a heater or a fire.

These fires can be fatal but that is preventable with some good habits.

So, instead of bombarding you with every hot tip at once, we’ll build one good habit at a time with our winter fire safety series of Hot Tips 🔥

In this series, we’ll cover:
1. Cooking critic turned lifesaver – the humble life of a smoke alarm 🚨
2. Escape my house – a race to get out 🏃‍♂️
3. Size does matter, why items must be 1 metre from the heater 📏
4. Hot under the covers with electric blankets 🛌
5. Belly button or dryer lint – which is more hazardous? 🫧
6. It’s spaghetti junction at the multi-board 🍝

So, whether you own a home, rent or live with family, building some good habits this winter could save your life.

For some light reading on home fire hazards, go to our website 👉 https://www.fireandemergency.nz/home-fire-safety/home-fire-hazards/

24/04/2026

Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou.
We will remember them.

12/04/2026

Our people are always prepared — no matter what jacket is needed.

Here are our top tips for you:

⚠️ If life or safety is at risk, call 111 immediately
⚠️ Follow advice from HB Civil Defence Emergency Management Group and emergency services
⚠️ Never drive through floodwaters

11/04/2026

Follow our friends at HB Civil Defence Emergency Management Group for up to date information.

⚠️🚨 LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED – COASTAL AREAS OF CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY, HASTINGS, AND NAPIER🚨 ⚠️

12:30pm SATURDAY 11.04.26

A local State of Emergency has been declared in Hawke’s Bay, specifically for coastal areas of Central Hawke’s Bay, Hastings, and Napier.

This declaration does NOT include the Wairoa District.

This will be in place for an initial period of seven days.

The emergency declaration was signed by Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (HBCDEM) and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chair Sophie Siers at 11.56am today.

The declaration gives Civil Defence Emergency Management controllers special emergency powers to respond to the impacts of Cyclone Vaianu. These powers include evacuating premises and places, which will start in targeted beachfront areas early this afternoon.

HBCDEM group controller Shane Briggs says it is critical residents heed police and Civil Defence instructions and messages.

“The most important thing is that everyone stays safe. For those outside of the evacuation areas, please make decisions based on the risk at your home. Self-evacuate if you feel at all unsafe. For those staying at home during the cyclone, stay off the roads and, as always, if there is a risk to life call 111 immediately,” Shane Briggs said.

The councils for each of the impacted coastal areas, supported by HBCDEM and Police, will coordinate the evacuations. They will be releasing public information following this declaration notice.

For the latest cyclone information, follow the HBCDEM website and page. For evacuation information follow your local council’s channels.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council Napier City Council - Te Kaunihera o Ahuriri Hastings District Council - Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Heretaunga Central Hawke's Bay District Council