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Firefighting stories

Kiwi firefighters head to US to help tackle unprecedented wildfires
Sustainability

Kiwi firefighters head to US to help tackle unprecedented wildfires

The deployment will give New Zealand crews urgent experience as unprecedented blazes threaten the US north-west and western Canada.

By Amy Williams • 4 min read • Thu, 13th Aug 2026
Battery fire in underground storage
Risk & Compliance

Battery fire in underground storage

Underground storage of battery-powered tools can turn a small fault into a fire risk, WorkSafe says after a toolbox blaze.

By Michael Curreen • 2 min read • Thu, 6th Oct 2022
Government scraps low-risk building consents
Construction

Government scraps low-risk building consents

Homeowners could save NZD $18 million a year as councils drop consents for sheds, carports and other low-risk work from August.

By Staff Writer • 6 min read • Wed, 27th May 2020
Fire safety under lockdown in New Zealand
Data centers

Fire safety under lockdown in New Zealand

Routine fire safety checks are being paused in New Zealand as lockdown rules limit work to urgent tasks protecting health, safety and essential services.

By Michael Curreen • 8 min read • Mon, 13th Apr 2020
New virtual reality training tech makes its way to Kiwi firefighters
AR, VR & Metaverse

New virtual reality training tech makes its way to Kiwi firefighters

New Zealand firefighters are set to use groundbreaking VR tech developed in Australia to safely train for hazardous scenarios, replacing outdated methods.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Thu, 31st Oct 2019
Firefighters train using virtual reality
Risk & Compliance

Firefighters train using virtual reality

Fire crews can now practise dangerous bushfire scenarios more safely and cheaply, without toxic foam or live flames, using virtual reality.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Wed, 30th Oct 2019
Innovative technology keeps Kiwi firefighters safe
Unified Communications

Innovative technology keeps Kiwi firefighters safe

Motorola Solutions and Spark have partnered to provide New Zealand's fire service with new radios for improved communication in fire ground environments.

By Sam Worthington • 2 min read • Wed, 17th Aug 2016

Global Stories

Firefighting stories

Connected drone ecosystems reshape public safety ops
Drones

Connected drone ecosystems reshape public safety ops

Fragmented drone systems are slowing emergency decisions as agencies juggle multiple platforms, sensors and command tools in fast-moving incidents.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 20th May 2026
Balmoral Tanks names Paul Edwards as Managing Director
DataCentre infrastructure

Balmoral Tanks names Paul Edwards as Managing Director

Balmoral Tanks has appointed manufacturing veteran Paul Edwards as Managing Director, succeeding long-serving leader Allan Joyce in May.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Wed, 25th Mar 2026
Christchurch Airport: Fighting fire with VR
AR, VR & Metaverse

Christchurch Airport: Fighting fire with VR

Christchurch Airport becomes the first in New Zealand to use custom VR programmes for firefighter training, enhancing readiness for emergencies.

By Sara Barker • 2 min read • Mon, 6th May 2019
Firefighting, security and compliance - are they separate issues?
Cybersecurity

Firefighting, security and compliance - are they separate issues?

Sometimes a critical issue like a virus outbreak or a major systems malfunction, sometimes something as urgent as a VSIP.

By David Harley • 7 min read • Thu, 4th Aug 2016

Stories from Other Regions

Firefighting stories

HERE & NSW Rural Fire Service expand fire trail routing
Digital Transformation

HERE & NSW Rural Fire Service expand fire trail routing

More than 60,000km of fire trails have been added to emergency routing, helping NSW Rural Fire Service crews reach remote incidents faster.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Thu, 20th Aug 2026
Canada sells retired Hercules planes for wildfire use
Sustainability

Canada sells retired Hercules planes for wildfire use

As wildfires intensify, 10 retired Hercules aircraft will be converted into aerial tankers, boosting Canada's firefighting fleet and aerospace jobs.

By Jake MacAndrew • 3 min read • Thu, 13th Aug 2026
British start-up's drone battery boosts range by 50%
Agricultural Technology

British start-up's drone battery boosts range by 50%

A 45% lighter heavy-lift drone could carry more payload and fly further, helping firefighters, medics and armed forces reach remote sites.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Sat, 1st Aug 2026
B.C. startup drone swarm tech wants to target wildfires faster
Robotics

B.C. startup drone swarm tech wants to target wildfires faster

From fire-ravaged British Columbia to NATO defence, FireSwarm is betting ultra-heavy drone swarms can transform fires and frontline rescues.

By Jake MacAndrew • 5 min read • Thu, 5th Mar 2026
Rising pressures push one in three DBAs to consider career change
Private Cloud

Rising pressures push one in three DBAs to consider career change

One in three database administrators in the UK are considering career changes amid rising work pressures and growing complexity, says new report.

By Melvin Hipolito • 4 min read • Wed, 5th Nov 2025