Risk is ever‑present; the challenge lies in how effectively it is identified, assessed, managed, and communicated as conditions evolve. This presentation examines risk management in time‑critical, high‑uncertainty environments, highlighting the interaction between strategic, operational, and responder safety risks. Drawing on personal experience from significant events, including the Whakaari tragedy, it explores decision‑making under pressure, risk tolerance, and the balance between operational necessity and safety. The presentation also considers human and organisational factors such as leadership, fatigue, safety culture, and multi‑agency coordination, and how these influence risk outcomes.