A well-thought-out fire escape plan can make the difference between a safe evacuation and a dangerous situation. While smoke alarms are crucial for early detection, it’s the escape plan that guides your family to safety when every second counts.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to build an effective fire escape plan in NZ, including room-by-room safety tips, evacuation strategies, and how to incorporate smoke alarms to support your emergency response.
Why Every Home in NZ Needs a Fire Escape Plan
Fires in residential homes can spread incredibly fast—sometimes within minutes. Once a fire starts, you may have as little as 2–3 minutes to escape.
Despite this, many New Zealand homes still don’t have a formal plan for what to do if a fire breaks out. Having an escape plan:
- Reduces panic and confusion
- Ensures every household member knows what to do
- Makes it easier to respond even if smoke is thick or visibility is poor
- Can help emergency services locate you or your family more quickly
For a full overview of fire safety steps, visit our Home Safety Guide.
Step 1: Plan Two Ways Out of Every Room
Start by identifying at least two exit routes for every room in the home. The main door is usually the first, but windows may need to serve as a secondary escape in some cases.
Make sure:
- Windows can be easily opened
- Escape routes are free of obstacles
- Exit doors are never blocked or deadlocked from the inside
For multi-storey homes, consider collapsible ladders or balcony access where appropriate.
Step 2: Decide on a Safe Meeting Point
Choose a clear, easily accessible meeting place outside your home—like:
- The letterbox
- A neighbour’s driveway
- The street corner or footpath
Make sure everyone knows to go straight there and never re-enter the house for pets, valuables, or any reason.
Step 3: Install and Maintain Photoelectric Smoke Alarms
Your fire escape plan is only effective if you’re alerted in time. That’s where photoelectric smoke alarms come in.
Cavius recommends installing:
- A smoke alarm in every bedroom
- One in hallways outside sleeping areas
- One in each living room or communal space
- At least one on every level of the home
These alarms detect smoke early, giving you precious seconds to evacuate safely.
Want to learn more? Read our article on what makes photoelectric smoke alarms the safest choice in NZ.
Step 4: Include Children, Elderly, and Visitors
Your plan must account for:
- Young children who may need help escaping
- Elderly or mobility-impaired family members
- Guests who are unfamiliar with the layout of your home
Assign a buddy system if needed—for example, a parent helping a child or a flatmate assisting someone with limited mobility.
Step 5: Practice Regularly
A plan is only effective if it’s practised. Fire and Emergency NZ recommends:
- Running a drill every 6 months
- Practising both daytime and nighttime evacuations
- Using the smoke alarm test button to simulate a real alert
- Timing the evacuation to see how quickly everyone gets out
Step 6: Keep Emergency Tools Accessible
Make sure the following are easy to access:
- A torch or emergency light
- Your mobile phone
- Basic first aid kit
- Fire blankets or small extinguishers (for kitchen areas)
Also keep your house number clearly visible from the road—so emergency services can find you faster.
Step 7: Teach Everyone What to Do in a Fire
Make sure every household member knows to:
- Get down low and crawl if there’s smoke
- Stay close to walls and avoid panicking
- Feel doors before opening them (heat could indicate fire)
- Call 111 as soon as they’re safely outside
Children should know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.
Downloadable Templates and Visual Maps
Consider drawing your own floor plan that shows all exits, alarm locations, and the designated meeting point. Stick it on the fridge or noticeboard as a visual reminder.
Some NZ fire safety websites also provide downloadable templates or mobile apps to help with this process.
Final Thoughts
Every household should treat fire escape planning as a core part of home safety. By combining working smoke alarms with a clear, practised evacuation plan, you can give yourself the best possible chance of getting out quickly and safely in a real emergency.
