Firefighter Ian Tanner is always ready to dive into a burning building at a moment's notice ... but his fingers are crossed he won't have to this Christmas.
After more than a decade fighting fire - using stealth, brains and, of course, water - he knows things can get tough with regular callouts and any fire a danger, regardless of location.
"Obviously in urban areas most of our callouts are interior fires, whereas in the Wanganui region we're dealing with open air fires far more."
And while mortality rates due to open air fires are lower than urban fires - in New Zealand at least - Mr Tanner said they face a different risk altogether.
"What we see most during the summer are bonfires, rubbish burn-offs, beach fires, hangis and barbecues - all started innocently enough but during hot, dry weather, left unattended, these can very quickly become dangerous.
"This is particularly true if highly flammable fuels have been used, while winds are a factor and so are embers if left unattended.
"A small spark cast on a passing gust is enough to start a flash fire that can spread terrifyingly quickly - particularly near bushland or farmland."
Hopefully for the Palmerston North-born father-of-two, that won't have to be the case this Christmas.
"If you're not sure, just ask," he advises people thinking of lighting a fire.
"Boundaries and seasonal rules do change, and environmental fire risk is an important factor to consider as well. Know your fire safety information."
Smoke nuisance is another thing the public should consider - even backyard bonfires may need a council permit. "If you don't have a permit, put it out. And make sure any beach fires aren't left to burn themselves out."
Mr Tanner will be joined by his family for Christmas lunch at the fire station, when families of the team will be joining the "unlucky" ones rostered for the festive day.
Having come from a South Auckland fire station that was, pardon the pun, hotter than hot, he wants his new-found Wanganui friends to make sure they're "looking while they're cooking" and not to "drink and fry".
His 11-year professional career in the fire service has its origins at Ohakea 16 years ago when he did a five-year stint with the Air Force's fire service.
"It's something I kind of fell into really. I was very lucky at school - when I was in sixth form those of us leaving school were given the opportunity to take a life-skills course.
"We were given the opportunity to chose an industry or trade to gain some work experience."
Crucial life skills, like budgeting and organising flatting were imparted, alongside stints of work experience.
"I had wanted to join the police force, but they can't take untrained youths on for work experience."
Instead he followed a friend's advice on a whim and gave the fire service a try.
His work experience at both the Palmerston North and Wanganui stations - responding to callouts and enjoying the day-to-day camaraderie of station life - inspired a new career dream.
He volunteered at the Bulls and Woodford stations, cementing his plans for the future before his stint at Ohakea.
Now he's loving his new position, having arrived in Wanganui from a South Auckland station "that was literally 7am-7pm, full on".
His first three months with the Wanganui service have reminded him what life in provincial New Zealand is like. The demands of the job haven't changed, though they're far better equipped with 11 active fire trucks, but now he's on call 24/7 - "Up north, when you were off , you were off."
But he loves it here and hasn't heard a bad word about Wanganui yet ... and he doubts he will.