Lawrence Volunteer Fire Brigade

03/02/2026

🔥 Planning to light a big fire during open season? Let us know! You can do this quickly using the 'lighting a fire in open season' tile at www.firepermit.nz
👩‍🚒 Unwanted callouts place a significant burden on our people, particularly volunteers, pulling them away from work and family.
👎 These unnecessary responses reduce availability for genuine emergencies and can increase risk to communities.
👍 Unwanted responses can be minimised by letting us know before lighting a fire. That way when someone sees the smoke and calls 111, our emergency calltakers can quickly check that it's your fire they're reporting.

Outram Volunteer Fire Brigade Mosgiel Volunteer Fire Brigade Wakari Volunteer Fire Brigade Ravensbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade Brighton Volunteer Fire Brigade Portobello Volunteer Fire Brigade Port Chalmers Volunteer Fire Brigade Owaka Volunteer Fire Brigade Waitati Fire Brigade Waikouaiti Volunteer Fire Brigade Palmerston Volunteer Fire Brigade Middlemarch Volunteer Fire Brigade Tapanui Volunteer Fire Brigade Lawrence Volunteer Fire Brigade Clutha Valley volunteer fire brigade papatowai fire brigade Milton Volunteer Fire Brigade Waihola Volunteer Fire Brigade Balclutha Volunteer Fire Brigade

09/01/2026

🔥 Otago’s fire risk will rise sharply over the next few days with gale force north-westerly winds, high temperatures and low relative humidity expected across most of the region.
🔥 Don’t light any outdoor fires – that means no bonfires, campfires or burn piles.
🔥 Fires will be very challenging for firefighters to put out in gale force winds.
🔥 Sunday and Monday are likely to be particularly hot and windy. Any rain that falls before then is unlikely to reduce the risk significantly.
🔥 If you have had an outdoor fire over the last week, make sure it’s completely out. Don’t just look – rake out the ashes and wet them thoroughly if they’re not completely cold
🔥 Most of inland Otago is already in a restricted fire season, with fire permits required for outdoor fires. If you have a permit, you must follow the conditions.
🔥 Check the weather forecast and www.checkitsalright.nz for advice

Queenstown Lakes District Council Central Otago District Council Clutha District Council Waitaki District Council Dunedin City Council

Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Station Clyde Volunteer Fire Brigade Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade Frankton Volunteer Fire Station Middlemarch Volunteer Fire Brigade Millers Flat Volunteer Fire Brigade Naseby Forest Recreation Area Omakau Fire Brigade Omarama Volunteer Fire Brigade Otematata Volunteer Fire Brigade Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade Roxburgh Volunteer Fire Brigade Waitaki Volunteer Fire Brigade Wanaka Volunteer Fire Brigade Lake Hawea Volunteer Fire Brigade Lawrence Volunteer Fire Brigade Luggate Volunteer Fire Brigade

01/01/2026

Final call out tally for 2025 is 61 also due to comms issues and the almighty wind event there should have been a few more but we will take it🤪

Big thanks to our team of volunteers who have responded 24/7 and given up work and family time to help the community. This includes our neighbouring brigades who we have worked with through the year Balclutha Volunteer Fire Brigade Milton Volunteer Fire Brigade Millers Flat Volunteer Fire Brigade Clutha Valley volunteer fire brigade Waitahuna Fire Brigade
Waihola Brigade Roxburgh Volunteer Fire Brigade

We want to take the time to wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2026 and thank you for your continued support over 2025👩‍🚒👨‍🚒🚒

22/12/2025

From all of the team at the Lawrence Volunteer Fire Brigade we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe new year, we will have a team on standby 24/7 so please be careful out on the roads and keep an eye on the fire dangers.
www.checkitsalright.nz

05/12/2025

A huge Reminder!!

Santa Is Coming to Town.
Save the date:
Saturday 6th December 2025 at 2pm,
Santa will be making a visit to Lawrence.
Make sure you listen for the sirens. Santa will also be joined by our Emergency services partners. NZ Police and Lawrence & Waitahuna Fire Brigades as well as Tuapeka Vintage club and many more There will be lollies for everyone to enjoy.
We will also be collecting for the Food Bank, so any non-perishables you would like to donate would be much appreciated Alternately you can drop off non-perishables to the Local police Station or Fire station
Santa will be starting on Peel St, then making his way along Harrington St, past the School up over Maryport St, back down Thurso St, then down Whitehaven St. Afterwards Santa will be resting up and preparing for his long journey around the world on Xmas day.

04/12/2025

❗️Hot and windy conditions are forecast across Otago today.❗️
Please do not light any outdoor fires today. It will be very hard to keep them under control.
🔥 If you have lit any outdoor fires over the last two or three weeks, it's your responsibility to make sure they will not reignite. Please go and check for any signs of heat or wisps of smoke. Soak the area thoroughly.
🔥 If you see smoke call 111 straight away

Otago Federated Farmers Waitaki District Council Queenstown Lakes District Council Central Otago District Council Clutha District Council Dunedin City Council Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management Otago Regional Council Naseby Forest Recreation Area
Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Station Balclutha Volunteer Fire Brigade Clyde Volunteer Fire Brigade Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade Kurow Volunteer Fire Brigade Lake Hawea Volunteer Fire Brigade Lawrence Volunteer Fire Brigade Luggate Volunteer Fire Brigade Middlemarch Volunteer Fire Brigade Otematata Volunteer Fire Brigade Omarama Volunteer Fire Brigade Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade Roxburgh Volunteer Fire Brigade Waihola Volunteer Fire Brigade Wakari Volunteer Fire Brigade Wanaka Volunteer Fire Brigade Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade Waitaki Volunteer Fire Brigade

15/11/2025

On Monday 10th November we had a very special visitor at training.

Helen Wallis joined us to share some wonderful memories of her late husband, John Wallis — an Honorary Life Member of our brigade who served for 27 plus years.

Helen kindly brought John’s medals back to the brigade, beautifully presented in a framed display alongside his photo. It was a touching moment for everyone as we reflected on the Wallis family’s incredible contribution to our brigade over the years.

Helen shared stories from the old days, including how the fire truck was used as her wedding car — so, of course, we couldn’t let her leave without another ride in the truck for old times’ sake! 🚒❤️

13/11/2025

31/10/2025

❗️Fire permits needed for all outdoor fires in Clutha District❗️
A restricted fire season comes into force in Clutha District tomorrow, to ensure that all outdoor fires are well planned and managed as part of the clean-up after last week's storm.

There are several factors that make fires a higher risk than usual:
• Windy weather is expected for the foreseeable future
• Many properties are preparing burn piles with storm debris, increasing the potential for fires to escape
• The state of emergency remains in Clutha, and resources are already more stretched than usual.
• Several town water supplies are still compromised

Go to www.checkitsalright to apply for a permit, and for advice on how to set up burn piles safely.

Clutha District Council Balclutha Volunteer Fire Brigade Clutha Valley volunteer fire brigade Lawrence Volunteer Fire Brigade Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management

04/10/2025

🌱☀️ Spring means birds are nesting in unexpected places, like machinery. Cars, Utes, Tractors Side-by-sides... any engine bay can be an opportune nesting place for a bird 🐦🪺

🪺🔥 Biggest culprit?
Nesting starlings! These birds can build a nest in 10 minutes near hot engine parts, leading to disaster🪺🔥

✅ Prevention tips:
🔹 Leave engine hoods up when parked
🔹 Check engine bays before starting
🔹 Keep fire extinguishers handy & learn how to use them
🔹 Clean machinery regularly to prevent chaff & grime buildup

🪺🔥 Always take a little time to check the engine bay for nests, leaves, debris etc before starting 🪺🔥

24/09/2025

Our volunteers come from all walks of life, backgrounds and industries. If you live in an area with a volunteer brigade and see the Proud Employer logo in local businesses, you know that business employs and supports our volunteers!

🔎 I spy with my little eye employers proudly supporting our volunteers 🫶