Coastguard volunteers graduate
Eleven Northland Coastguard volunteers are now qualified to crew a rescue vessel in an emergency after completing a weeklong training course hosted by Coastguard Tutukaka.
They included volunteers from Houhora and Bay of Islands, the programme including theory and practice, ranging from navigation and search techniques to victim recovery, towing, helming and night operations.
Keith McKay, president of Coastguard Tutukaka, said two Coastguard rescue vessels from Auckland and one each from Whangaruru and Tutukaka had been used. Most participants had been volunteering for Coastguard for 12 to 18 months.
Normally such courses were held in Auckland but this one had been offered in Northland, where all but two of the participants lived. Fire restrictions have been lifted in the Far North, but the Kaitaia Fire Brigade’s deputy Chief Fire Officer, Ross Beddows, had a warning for those who light fires after a busy Easter weekend.
By Sunday afternoon the brigade had responded to eight incidents, including two fires, starting with a small grass fire at a Pukepoto Rd (Kaitaia) address on Friday evening.
“It had started from a previous burn off, embers flaring up in the afternoon breeze and setting the kikuyu alight and quickly advancing to the fenceline,” Mr Beddows said.
“The crews of two appliances had it under control within 15 minutes.
“Just after 5pm another burn-off got away when the property owner turned her back for a few minutes, setting fire to a bamboo shelter belt at Victoria Valley. The flames took hold quickly, and it looked quite spectacular when we arrived, but it was dealt with without too much difficulty by the two appliances, The tanker provided further water for dampening down.
“It's probably worth reminding those who are making the most of the autumn conditions to burn off vegetation that a few minutes’ inattention can result in your fire getting away on you, as conditions are still fairly dry, and if it's windy the risk goes up considerably,” he added.
“Best to light early before the breeze arrives, and watch your fire at all times. Don't leave it unattended.”
The weekend’s calls also included a false alarm (reported as a chimney fire) at Ngati Kahu Social Services, just along Commerce St from the fire station, on Saturday afternoon.