The Fire Service in Christchurch has been dealing with many more fires than normal, following last month's earthquake.
It attended 19 fires over the weekend, when it would normally go to about five.
Christchurch area manager Dan Coward says not all of these can be attributed to damage from the quake.
Some were caused by people cooking while intoxicated and not checking the stove, some by from candles and others because appliances weren't off when the power was switched back on.
Mr Coward says the Fire Service knows people are under stress but they must take safety messages on board.
