50 YEARS A FIREFIGHTER
Dennis Alexander’s neighbours can sleep soundly – he’s got a fully equipped fire engine in his garage.
In fact, Alexander, 70, could be New Zealand’s most dedicated firefighter.
Not only has he just been awarded a double gold star for serving 50 years as a fireman, but he also has his own museum of firefighting memorabilia housed in an old dairy factory in rural Taranaki.
The museum contains thousands of model fire engines, flags, uniforms, fire extinguishers, photographs and other items. His pride and joy is a 1959 Dennis fire engine, which he has painstakingly restored.
Although it is kitted out with everything he would need to fight a fire, nowadays it usually only comes out for special occasions like the Eltham Christmas parade.
Alexander became a volunteer with the Eltham Fire Brigade 10 years ago, after 40 years full-time service with fire services in Petone, Ardmore, Auckland, Hawera and New Plymouth.
He and his wife Ann moved to Eltham after Dennis spotted the former Hunter Rd dairy factory for sale, a building big enough to house his fire fighting collection.
Fire fighting is in his blood – his father was a full-time fireman and his grandfather was superintendent of the Thames volunteer brigade.
The job was very different when he started, aged 16, he said.
‘‘It was very regimented, almost naval; it was run by ex-seamen, everything had to be done on the double. We didn’t salute, but it was pretty close to it.’’
In those days, they rescued people from burning buildings in ways they’d never be expected or allowed to do these days.
‘‘One guy on a ladder would put his foot on the sill, tie a rope around a person and lower them to the ground, and we’d carry people out.’’
He remembers some big house fires in Petone, where wooden houses were crowded close together.
‘‘You’d arrive, and there’d be three houses alight, one in the middle had spread to the ones either side.’’
His actions had helped save lives on a few occasions, he said.
‘‘We all worked as a team.’’ Alexander said he hadn’t kept in touch with any of the people he saved over the years as this was discouraged.
Chief fire officer of the Eltham brigade, Dave Waite, described Alexander as ‘‘an all round good guy’’ who was well respected by the brigade.
‘‘Denny’s knowledge and methodology is invaluable. If we have a technical rescue, he’s a very good guy to call on.’’
Alexander was also key in a lot of successful fundraising campaigns and managed the water tanker service that delivered water to households in the community.
He welcomes groups to view his fire museum – people can email him at firedupandaway@windowslive.com for more information.