Fire and Emergency New Zealand: Museum of Fires Past

The 'Museum of Fires Past' tells a story of destruction and survival through an exhibition of burnt household items retrieved from real house fires.

When confronted with a severely burnt personal item, you immediately assume the worst. To reinforce the importance of a functioning smoke alarm, Fire and Emergency NZ used compelling true stories from house fire survivors in a polarising exhibition.

A plaque beneath each item details how it perished, but reveals the owners escaped unscathed thanks to a working smoke alarm.

From Bella's mangled teddy bear, to Jayden's melted PlayStation controller, to Bruce's signed sneaker – everyone lived to tell the tale.

Presenting these items as expensive artefacts and telling the true stories of survival highlights the value of a smoke alarm, and that a house fire doesn't have to cost you your life.