Completely irresponsible use of fireworks should make the public think seriously about whether they should be banned from individual sale, Fire Service Chief Executive/National Commander Mike Hall said today.

The Fire Service is urging elderly New Zealanders to get Firewise. 'Too many elderly are being injured and killed in fires,' says acting national commander Bill Butzbach.

Firefighters, including specialist urban search and rescue personnel, would have done anything they could to save a construction worker buried under tons of soil in Mission Bay yesterday.

New Zealand's grass fires are the target of new collaborative research with Australia.

Visitors to larger home stay premises will have the added protection of a home sprinkler system under a new agreement between the New Zealand Fire Service and @Home New Zealand, the association representing all major home stays.

The Fire Service is defending its national agreement with the Ministry of Education that limits the use of school facilities for sleepovers and requires appropriate levels of fire protection to ensure the facilities are safe.

Fire Service National Commander Mike Hall says he is appalled with public apathy following three deaths in fires this week.

The Fire Service is doing everything it can to ensure the Ratana festival is as safe from fire as possible.