Living in New Zealand: Emergency Services are Largely Voluntary

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In 1870 fire destroyed Lyttleton's main street. It started in the Queen’s Hotel (which later became London Street restaurant, which had to be demolished after the earthquake, as happened to many of the historic timber buildings that had been rebuilt in brick to resist fire). Residents had to demolish buildings to stop the fire spreading as there was no firefighting service in the isolated town. There is now, and a siren sounds to call the volunteers when they are needed. I really don't like that sound.

The Order of St John (or St John's) is the ambulance service for most of New Zealand. It is voluntary, in the way that having an emergency health event isn't.