Well, the warm weather has finally appeared and, now that we won’t be needing our fires for a while, it’s timely to have well-used chimneys be swept so they will be ready and safe for next winter.
Also, a reminder that we are now in the Restricted Fire Season and any open fires must be permitted. Please contact Rotorua Lakes Council for this, and check the conditions and any restrictions in force on the day of your permitted burn. Please also remain vigilant for signs of smoke in the bush and surrounding areas.
This last week has seen the Lake Okareka Rural Fire Force involved in a number of community events. The Rotorua Fire and Emergency NZ Open Day at the central station was well supported by the public and the fire truck races for the children were a huge hit. Likewise, the Santa delivery to the Lake Okareka Carol Evening is always a merry occasion. Mudtopia was a muddy affair but the younger members, and a few older ones, rolled their sleeves up, or rather their trousers, and got themselves dirty by mixing the mud and water by foot. This was followed by both the fire appliance and tanker being part of the procession in the Santa Parade in the afternoon.
On a fundraising note, a team from the Fire Force have entered the 2018 Sky Tower Stair Climb. This will be the fifth consecutive year for Lake Okareka Rural Fire. This event raises funds for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand to support victims and their families. If you would like to support the Lake Okareka Rural Fire team for next year’s Sky Tower Challenge, you can make donations via the following website: https://firefightersclimb.org.nz/.
If you have been thinking about joining the Fire Force, please come down to the fire station at 7.30pm on a Wednesday night when we do training or phone me on 3628874. You can also go to our website: www.okarekaruralfire.com.
Phil Muldoon
Chief Fire Officer