2 | Mahurangimatters 4 July 2012
Mahurangimatters is a locally owned publication, circulated Fire review Issue 206
twice a month to more than 12,350 homes and businesses.
Next issue is July 18 Following issue is August 1 – Advertising deadline July 18
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as all parties are working to the same end of community protection. A change would make little difference to the public who should still call 111 for an emergency and phone the Council for fire permits. Mr Cartelle says Council is also working to amalgamate Auckland’s four fire authorities, Auckland Council, Waitakere Rural Fire District, Woodhill-Riverhead Fire District and the Department of Conservation, under one governance and align their fire season status, to ensure a consistent message to the public that will be easier to understand. He says a wet summer has meant the rural service has faced fewer vegetation fires this season, but an increase in other types of incidents like road crashes. A period of rain could also lead to public complacency about fire dangers and education and prevention remain an ongoing focus, he says.
Service needs varied skills Leigh Fire Brigade is seeking a number of new recruits to top up the brigade but not only burly men may apply. Volunteer support officer Ted Fuller 17 volunteers and only one woman, says as the primary role of the service although in the past it has had up is changing, a broader range of to five. The Fire Service is interested volunteers is needed. in women who have nursing or Firefighters are less likely to be rushing other medical training, even if they into burning buildings and more don’t want to become a firefighter, likely to be doing co-response work, particularly if they’re available to attending medical emergencies before attend medical callouts during the day. the ambulance can get there, making Recruits that do want to undergo firepeople with nursing skills or other fighter training will also be welcomed. medical training, particularly valuable, Ted says that although they can he says. join from as young as 16 with Because Leigh is more than 20km parental consent, those 18 plus who from an ambulance base, the brigade are settled in an area are preferred gets called to quite a lot of medicals, and some recent immigrants have but also covers a broad range of events found it a good way to become part of including car crashes, fires, petrol the community. spillages, animal rescues and urban There are no physical restrictions on search and rescue. applicants, who get all the necessary At its peak a few years ago, the station training, gaining NZQA qualifications got 110 calls in a year, but this year on the way. However, volunteers must it’s averaged more like one a week be within about a four-minute legal although recently there were five in a drive time to get to the fire station single week. so appliances can respond promptly The brigade currently includes about to callouts.
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a resource available to Council in the event of a vegetation fire or civil defence emergency. While the Fire Service would assess the level of equipment it required, Mr Cartelle says that with two pumps plus an emergency response unit, it is already a well-equipped station that’s well supported by the community. Matakana’s chief fire officer, Barry Clarke views the potential change as a positive and logical one. A former professional firefighter, he sees advantages for members in the move, which he says will enhance their structural training in keeping with the demands of their area. He said the brigade currently has about 19 members, including a couple of women, but is always looking for new people to replace those that move on. There is no set timeline for the potential transition, which Mr Cartelle says is always a “very amicable process”
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