Sheffield Volunteer Fire Brigade

26/01/2026

🔥 Open Fire Season🔥

From 8am Tuesday 27 January, the entire Canterbury District is lifting restrictions and moving back to Open Fire Season.

We’ve received significant rain in the last few weeks, which means the fire danger has reduced. As we saw in Canterbury late last year, dry weather and high winds can still cause fires to spread quickly regardless of the fire season. We expect anyone lighting a fire to do so responsibly.

✅ Always check the weather and conditions at checkitsalright.nz
✅ Fully extinguish any burn piles you light
❌ Don't light if high winds are forecast

Thanks to everyone for doing their part during the restrictions and helping keep Canterbury safe.

08/01/2026

This weekend is set to be a scorcher! 🌞💨

That comes with Extreme Fire Danger though. So to ensure everyone is safe over the weekend we are suspending all active fire permits from 11:59pm Friday 9th January until 08:00 Monday 12th January.

We are encouraging everyone to do the following over the weekend:
❌ Do not light any fires during this time.
🕵Check on any previous burn piles - even if they are over a week old
🌾People should be careful carrying out any hot works, or works that cause sparks, including mowing lawns in the cooler parts of the day like the early morning (sorry neighbours)
🔥If you see any smoke or flames, call 111 immediately!

We are still in a Restricted Fire Season, so if you are planning to light a fire after this weekend go to www.checkitsalright.nz and apply for a permit. All permits that were suspended will be active again after 08:00am Monday 12th January.

03/01/2026

🚒The stats for 2025🚒

Thankfully the callouts in our area were down slightly on the previous year, but we ask people to be careful on the roads especially with the holiday period coming to an end.

We would like to once again thank the team for making themselves available day & night, 365 days of the year. To the families and employers who put up with the volunteers dropping what they were doing to respond to when the siren goes, we thank you all. Without you all the Sheffield Volunteer Fire Brigade would not be able to support the community as well as they do.

Here is hoping we beat last year stats with the callout numbers coming down again this year!!

15/12/2025

⚠ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 ⚠

At 11.59 pm tonight the Canterbury District will move to Restricted Fire Season. That mean's that all open air fires will require a permit.

Please note that the Canterbury and Mid-South Canterbury boundaries are split and this applies to Canterbury North of the Rakaia River.

𝗧𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁 👉 https://www.firepermit.nz/FENZ/Welcome.aspx

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 👉 It is a requirement to check and comply with the conditions of your permit.

To double check the fire season, check the weather conditions in your area or for any other rural fire safety education please visit https://checkitsalright.nz/

14/12/2025

Please be aware of the gusty winds over the next couple of days.

The 'Check its aright' website suggests the following for Sheffield - We’ve found you a better day! From our forecasted data, it looks like Wednesday, Dec 17th will be a better day for your plans. Conditions may still change on the day, so please check again to be sure.

Disappointingly, recent wildfire incidents within the Canterbury area have highlighted too many people are still ignoring basic fire safety advice.

No excuses:
⚠ Before you light a fire check www.checkitsalright.nz and follow the advice provided.
⚠ If conditions are, or are forecasted to be windy or very hot don’t light fires.
⚠ Always have someone monitoring the fire.
⚠ When finished with your fire use water to fully extinguish, don’t leave the fire to smoulder.
⚠ Keep an eye on previously lit fires – a fire you lit remains your responsibility.

Anyone lighting a fire has a duty of care to ensure it does not get out of control or spread. This includes not leaving a substance to smoulder in a way that increases the likelihood of starting a fire. Failure to meet these obligations can be an offence under the Fire and Emergency NZ Act 2017 which may carry significant penalties including imprisonment and fines up to $300,000.

Just because you’ve ignored safe practices in the past without consequence, doesn’t make it safe. Fire is a powerful tool, but there can be no room for complacency.

02/12/2025

Christmas Can Drive – Saturday 13th December from 5pm

Following on from the wonderful community spirit over the last couple of years, the fire truck will be out and about collecting non-perishable food items for the Darfield Food Bank to help those in need during the festive and holiday period. Please listen out for the siren!! 🚒

If you would like to donate but will not be around on that evening, you are most welcome to drop food off to the Sheffield Fire Station from 7pm on Tuesday 9th December or during the day at Nev Croy’s postal room at 2 Good Street until Friday 12th December.

Any support will be greatly appreciated!!

25/11/2025

⚠️ High Wind Warning ⚠️

MetService has issued an orange wind warning for severe gale northwesterlies of up to 120km for the Canterbury High Country and the plains near the foothills for tomorrow Thursday 27th November. Fire and Emergency are warning people of an increased fire risk from today.

We ask people to do the following:
❌ Avoid lighting any new outdoor fires
✅ Thoroughly extinguish any existing fires and old burn piles
✅ Always visit www.checkitsalright.nz prior to lighting any outdoor fire and check your local weather conditions
✅ Phone 111 if you have a fire that is getting out of control

For a demonstration on how to safely extinguish a burn pile click the link below 👇
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2728138930853997

29/10/2025

Just a wee reminder with Guy Fawkes Night coming up.

21/10/2025

⚠️A total ban on open fires and fireworks comes into force across the whole of Canterbury at noon today because of the gales, high temperatures and low humidity that are forecast for the next few days. This means no new fires at all, for any reason, and no fireworks. ⚠️
• We are asking every landowner, agricultural contractor, forestry manager and lifestyle block owner to help us avoid any more fires starting, or reigniting from previous burns.
• Anyone who has had an outdoor fire since the beginning of September is asked to go and check today that it is completely out. If you see any sign of heat or smoke, please act immediately to fully wet down the site. If this is not possible, call 111 so that firefighters can assist.

Yesterday’s fires showed the devastating effects that wildfires have on communities, putting lives at risk and causing significant damage. We are asking everyone to do their bit to make sure this doesn't happen anywhere else.

21/10/2025

19/09/2025

Spring in Canterbury has always been known for the wind and mother nature is not giving us much of a break at the moment💨💨💨

A Red 🔴 weather warning has been issued for strong winds around the Canterbury foothills and about, from tonight (Saturday 20th) until late tomorrow.

These winds could reach very destructive strengths, so tie down any loose furniture or pop it under some shelter. Tie down any trampolines. Avoid travelling in these areas especially if you are in a high sided vehicle.

And please please please 🙏 check your old burn piles now and make sure they are cold all the way through. That means turning them over and looking for smouldering embers. A fire reigniting in these winds could be devastating.