The Fire Service restructure that is underway will provide more support for many volunteer brigades and more consistency in staffing and administration within its five regions.

It is rare for firefighters to encounter an incident like the fire at the chicken farm at Lepperton last October. A series of uncoordinated decisions at the fire, combined with the unusual nature of the fire, resulted in two New Plymouth firefighters being seriously injured.

The Fire Service is encouraging people to make the most of big public Guy Fawkes firework displays.

The New Zealand Fire Service USAR team has been tasked to search for survivors in northern Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The New Zealand Fire Service is mobilising its two North Island Urban Search and Rescue taskforce's to support the third taskforce which is based in Christchurch.