Recruitment drive works

Christchurch: The Akaroa Volunteer Fire Brigade has taken its recruitment drive to the classroom.

Teenagers at Akaroa Area School are being trained to put out fires, and some are going on to become fulltime firefighters.

‘‘We were struggling to man the fire appliance during the day,’’ Akaroa Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Mark Thomson said.

‘‘My oldest son had just left school and some of his mates were still at the school and they wanted to join, so I thought this is a good opportunity to let them do it. Ever since then, it’s worked out pretty damn good.’’

There are 28 members on the crew, up from 14 in 2014.