Fire and Emergency New Zealand: Museum of Fires Past

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 captured a series of polarising images of burnt items retrieved from actual house fires.

A hanging plaque above each item reveals that the owners all escaped unscathed thanks to a working smoke alarm.

From Bella's mangled teddy bear, to Jayden's melted PlayStation controller, to Bruce's singed 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.