Competition feels fires’ effect
ANY firefighter knows when it is an emergency you drop everything and go to help.
That ethos threatened to derail the Otago and Southland Waterway firefighting competition in Mosgiel on Saturday, when one of the vital elements for the event — a fire engine — was seconded for use in fighting the forest fires near Nelson.
‘‘We had to change everything over to a different appliance this morning,’’ competition organiser Wayne Ferguson said.
‘‘They’re doing sterling service up there.’’
Volunteer fire brigade members from Kaitangata, Balclutha, Mataura, Rangiora, Mossburn A and B, Oamaru, Wyndham and Mosgiel took part in the competition.
Competing in teams of two and four, the crew members took part in a range of exercises designed to demonstrate their professional skills with hoses and machinery.
Trophies were awarded in individual disciplines, as well as an overall prize.
It was also a test of their fitness and endurance, as temperatures at noon topped 30degC.
‘‘This makes them better firefighters, ’’Mr Ferguson said.
‘‘Better at using a hose, getting into buildings, etc — it is a real test of their skills and enables them to be safer.’’
The competition had a proud history which exceeded 70 years, Mr Ferguson said.
‘‘About 1012 years ago they redid all the runs to modernise them, and we are now looking at modifying some of them to incorporate some rural events.’’
❛ . . . it is a real test of their skills and enables
them to be safer