Emergency Calls

In an emergency call Triple Zero (000)

Knowing how to call Triple Zero (000) for a fire emergency can be the difference between life and death, or a building or other property being saved or destroyed. The Triple Zero (000) service is the quickest way to get the right resources from emergency services to help you and should be used to contact Police, Fire or Ambulance services in life threatening or time critical situations.

Calls to Triple Zero (000) are FREE and can be made from mobile phones, home or work phones or pay phones.

How to report a fire by calling Triple Zero (000)

There a few simple steps in making a Triple Zero (000) call to report a fire:

  • Stay calm and call Triple Zero (000) from a safe location.
  • An operator will ask you if you need Police, Fire or Ambulance. Say "Fire". If you are calling using a mobile or satellite phone the operator will ask you for other location information.
  • You will then be connected to an emergency service operator, who will take details of the situation.
  • Stay on the line, speak clearly and answer the operator's questions.
  • Give them the details of where you are, including street number, name, nearest cross street, and locality. In rural areas it is important to give the full address and distances from landmarks and roads, not just the name of the property.
  • Don't hang up until the operator has all the information they need.
  • If possible, wait outside at a prearranged meeting point or in a prominent location. This will assist the Fire Services when arriving to quickly locate the fire.
  • If you make a Triple Zero (000) call whilst travelling on a Motorway or on a rural road, know the direction you are travelling and the last exit or town you passed through to assist services to correctly locate the incident. NOTE: do not make phone calls while driving unless  Pull over on 

Contacting emergency services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing

There are many ways to contact emergency services via the National Relay Service for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

If you find yourself in an emergency which is either life threatening or where time is critical, you can contact Fire Services, Police or Ambulance:

  • by TTY - dial 106
  • by internet relay [external link] and ask for Triple Zero (000)
  • by captioned relay and ask for Triple Zero (000)
  • by SMS relay – text 0423 677 767 include "000, FIRE, your name, location and details of emergency, GA (go ahead)".
  • by video relay – login to Skype and contact one of the NRS contact names (NOTE: only available 7am-6pm EST Mon-Fri), or
  • by ordinary phone - dial 1800 555 727 and ask for Triple Zero (000)

Always ask for the service you need - Police, Fire or Ambulance and state or confirm your location. The relay officer will stay on the line to relay your conversation. The emergency service will ask you questions and decide on the best way to help you.

For more information on all available services, visit the National Relay Service website [external link]