Southern Lakes Fire Brigade

02/06/2026

10/04/2026

⚠️ WEATHER WARNING – PLEASE PREPARE NOW ⚠️
Southern Lakes Fire Brigade is urging everyone in our community to get ready ahead of the severe weather expected over the coming days.
Please take the time now to prepare your home and your family:
• Charge your phones and power banks
• Fill your vehicles with fuel (ouch 🤑)
• Have plenty of drinking water on hand
• Check torches, candles, and batteries
• Secure any loose outdoor furniture or items
• Make sure you have food, medications, and warm clothing ready
Please also check in on elderly neighbours, those living alone, and anyone who may need a hand getting prepared.
Please avoid unnecessary travel once the weather starts to deteriorate.
If you need emergency assistance, please call 111 directly.
We are here to help and only a phone call away. Please stay safe, look after one another, and don’t hesitate to reach out in an emergency.
— Southern Lakes Fire Brigade

15/02/2026

The weather is looking rough tonight with strong winds and heavy rain expected across our area. Please take extra care if you’re heading out, secure any loose items around your home, and check on vulnerable friends and neighbors.

Important: Don’t risk it – if you need urgent help, call 111 immediately.

https://www.metservice.com/rural/regions/taupo/locations/turangi

https://www.metservice.com/news/weather-news

05/02/2026

📣 Shout out to an everyday hero who beat us to the punch today!

One of our locals was calling for help and this stand-up guy ran in straight from the street and was first on scene — providing critical assistance before crews arrived.

We love our community, and we love seeing our community look after each other like this 💛

If you’re keen to step up and do more of this kind of thing, why not join the brigade? Send us a message — we’d love to have you on board🔥

13/01/2026

As of 5pm tonight, the Southern Lakes area will move into a Restricted Fire Season.

This means no fires are allowed without an approved fire permit 🔥
Dry conditions and warm weather mean fires can start and spread quickly.

Please take extra care, check conditions before doing any hot work, and report any suspicious smoke or fire immediately by calling 111.

97% of wildfires in Aotearoa are caused by people — we can’t control the weather, but we can control our actions.

For fire permits and current conditions, visit checkitsalright.nz

09/01/2026

As summer feels like it has returned in force, this means an increased fire risk!

⚠️ Important to know: 97% of wildfires in New Zealand are caused by people - We can’t control the weather, but we can control our actions.

🚫 If your weekend plans include outdoor fires or spark/heat-generating activities (such as mowing, grinding, welding, or using power tools), please consider postponing them.

💧 Check burn piles from the past few weeks and make sure they are completely extinguished. If in doubt — put more water on them.

In these conditions, one spark or ember is all it takes to start a wildfire that can spread rapidly and be extremely difficult for crews to control.

Please help keep our community, firefighters, and whānau safe.

>>More information here:
https://www.fireandemergency.nz/incidents-and-news/news-and-media/extreme-caution-needed-in-many-districts-as-fire-risk-spikes-over-coming-days/

31/12/2025

Please take care on the final day of 2025! 🎉

We’d love to see in the New Year with you — but not because you called 111!

Look after your mates, sort a sober driver, and keep the fireworks away from anything flammable. We prefer watching fireworks… not responding to them.

28/12/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we’ve totalled our call-outs - our volunteers have responded to 138 calls this year!

Thank you to our amazing community — and the families and employers who support our team.

Stay safe this summer, and remember to call 111 if you need us. ⛑️🔥

*after a medical call-out last night for our First Responders we can take that up to 139!!

25/12/2025

Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎄

Santa and his elves have headed back to the North Pole after today’s deliveries around Ōmori, Kuratau, and Pukawa.

Thank you to all who gave a donation - all the funds raised today will go towards our First Response capability!

If you snapped any photos this morning, we’d love to see them — please tag us or share them here! ❤️