Brigade responds to more than fires

Fire has been in the news recently more than at any time in recent memory, what with the huge blazes in Hawkes Bay and Christchurch, so it is entirely fitting that Waitara’s fire brigade be covered in this issue.

Inside an unassuming shed on Grey St sit three large vehicles, silent and waiting, ready to come to life and rush to the aid of the town and its’ immediate surroundings. And Waitara Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Dennis Crow has been a part of this for more than 35 years.

‘‘Waitara born and bred,’’ Dennis says proudly, when asked about his origins. It could be said that fire is in his blood, as he is following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. They, too, served the community for decades battling blazes, and Dennis is not about to quit any time soon.

So, how often are the services of Dennis and his team needed?

‘‘Well, we average about 220 callouts a year,’’ he says. ‘‘In the main, house fires are not actually our main job … we’re more likely to be attending car accidents or providing medical assists. So far this year, we’ve had 22 major callouts.’’

In normal situations, there is a team of roughly 26 in the brigade, with about six of those persons in the operational support role.

It might seem strange that Waitara’s fire service does not see many fires, at least lately, but that’s down to a few factors. ‘‘Weather is always a big player,’’ says Dennis. ‘‘Hot dry weather, I mean. And well, as you know, this year we’ve not really had very much of that at all.’’

Indeed, the week of the interview was the first time this reporter has experienced fullheat summer so far. But it’s not just the weather, of course. ‘‘People really do seem to have got the message about smoke alarms, and that’s a huge help. We did a drive to raise awareness of the need for alarms a few years back, and the idea seems to have stuck.’’

When fires do happen, and of course they do, Waitara’s vehicles are ready to go. There are two main trucks, a Scania for ‘‘471’’ calls … fires, and an Iveco for ‘‘477’’ missions that require rescue gear. In addition, there is a medical support vehicle.

The pumps on the Scania can push out the truck’s large on-board water supply at ferocious pressure, but that internal tank can go from empty to full in as short a time as two minutes. ‘‘So, hydrants are pretty necessary,’’ laughs Dennis.

Asked about Waitara itself, Dennis’s love for the town is obvious, and he’s glad that it’s come back to life in a big way in recent years. But, he says, it was always a nice place, and, in his words ‘‘If the place was so bad, why would people like me stay here for 36 years?’’ Hard to argue with that.

The service is always looking for people to join their ranks. If you wish to become part of the Waitara Volunteer Fire Brigade call 06 754 9110 or go online at fire.org.nz where you navigate to the region link.