Urgent need for brigade volunteers
The Ōmokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade chief says there is an urgent need for members of the growing community to come forward and volunteer.
Chief Fire Officer Ian Blunt says a recruitment campaign in recent weeks has failed to spark interest, although the most recent three recruits have been progressing well.
Ryan McLean-Harvey, Matteus Lander, and Dylan Tetenburg have now undertaken their basic training at the National Training Centre to formally become Firefighters, while Ross Leek, previously a Senior Firefighter, has completed his Station Officer training and filled a vacancy to become part of the senior management team.
Ryan says it was a most valuable week staying in Rotorua. “We learned a hell of a lot, touched up on the skills that we have already been taught throughout the station and learnt some new skills at the national standard for Fire Emergency New Zealand, all the way from hose rolling to search and rescue, to breathing apparatus, to live fires.”
Matteus says since joining the brigade as a new recruit, training has been fantastic. “We’ve had a number of really good trainers that basically got us to the standard that we needed to go away and complete this course.
“So we were covering pretty much everything from ladders to hoses to working at height and injury control skills to breathing apparatus, which is another important skill for firefighters in particular.
“It’s all culminated into getting through the actual course itself in an effective way, and we’ve been able to learn a lot more because of what we already knew from our Ōmokoroa experiences,” says Matteus.
Dylan Tetenburg encourages potential new volunteers to come forward.
“To anybody who has the means and the time to commit themselves, it’s a brilliant opportunity. The brigade’s been very welcoming. I knew absolutely no one. But it’s a close-knit family, and it’s been an awesome journey with Matteus and Ryan as fellow recruits.
“I’ve always wanted to be a part of Fire and Emergency New Zealand. I originally wanted to be a career officer, but due to
life, marriage, mortgage and children, I’ve found volunteer service to accommodate me a bit more since I live out here, says Dylan.
Ian says, “Congratulations to all of these volunteers. To these three starting out, they are now able to ride the truck and respond to calls. Ross followed his father and grandfather in joining the brigade 18 years ago, and has progressed to the Station Officer rank.
“You, too, can join the FENZ family in Ōmokoroa and be a part of the team protecting your community as medical first responders and firefighters. Don’t be shy; get in contact today. It’s becoming a matter of urgency for us to get more new recruits on board.”