A firefighter appeared drunk and others could not demonstrate basic critical skills during an audit, an official report says.

The Hakarimata Track is not in danger from the fire, but remains closed this morning.

A bush fire which threatened homes near Blenheim this afternoon is being treated as suspicious.

Nearly 1000 cats have found themselves in predicaments needing rescue by fire crews in the last five years.

Firefighters are battling a blaze at a scrap metal yard in Silverdale, north of Auckland, this morning.

A person has been injured in a car crash in Manurewa, South Auckland, this morning.

Neighbours of a Hamilton house on fire woke the sleeping family in time to escape with their lives.

Exactly what caused a huge bush fire in Northland is still being investigated. Several fire crews and two helicopters were needed

Auckland and Bay of Plenty worst hit, but authorities say reduction efforts have worked.

Five helicopters with monsoon buckets have been dispatched to the Far North in a bid to bring a large scrub fire under control.

Thousands of people witnessed a large scrub fire on Mt Wellington's volcanic cone last night.

A funeral will be held for an Auckland man's son, wife and mother-in-law this week after a house fire claimed their lives and left

Fire crews are rushing to a scrub fire at Peria, just south of Mangonui in the Far North.

The Department of Conservation is sending in helicopters this morning to deal with the remnants of a bush fire on the Coromandel.

Firefighters responding to reports of smoke at a multi-storey building are using thermal imaging cameras to find the source.

Crews from Thames, Turua, Te Puru and Tapu have been called to assist at the blaze.

A fundraising effort has begun for a man whose wife, son and mother-in-law died in a fire yesterday.

Firefighters grateful for change of heart on legal troubles.

A chemical leak which closed part of Napier Port earlier today has now been contained.

A 500sqm vegetation fire near Uretiti Beach DOC campsite, just south of Ruakaka has been contained.

A woman was impaled on a fence post outside an Eden Terrace bar on Wednesday night. She was impaled by the leg near Galbraith's Alehouse

Six fire crews are battling a "well involved" Nelson house fire and searching the property to see if anyone is inside.

Rush hour traffic between Hastings and Napier has been affected by a blaze at a Napier Fertiliser works earlier today.

After five long nights on a cliff edge suffering a broken leg and severe dehydration, cocker spaniel Bluey will soon be home with

Police want to remind Kiwis to keep safe during fireworks season.

The country's biggest volunteer fire brigade has taken out insurance after a court case involving a fire truck crashing on its way to an emergency callout.

Ngaruawahia again in the news after car "apparently blew up".

One person has been airlifted to hospital after the ute they were in rolled at a beach north of Auckland this afternoon. Emergency

Police and the Fire Service are at a West Auckland cemetery tonight following reports a car within the grounds is on fire.

It wasn't quite the cat-up-a-tree cliche, but it was something near-enough that gave a Wellington fire crew a memorable call-out for the long weekend.