LAKE OKAREKA VOLUNTEER RURAL FIRE FORCE
Roll on summer! We certainly have had our fair share of rain, hail and snow over winter.
Your fire brigade has had an uncharacteristically quiet winter with very few call-outs, the most recent being a rubbish bin fire. This was reported to someone, who reported it to someone else, who reported it to someone else, who reported it to Firecoms. Have you ever heard of Chinese whispers? Well, this was more like Okareka whispers!
Please phone direct to 111 – they won’t bite. This prevents unnecessary delays and ensures the correct information is received. These types of fires (ie. rubbish bins) do seem quite harmless, until you discover those nice little gas cylinders cooking away in the embers – then it becomes quite serious.
We are looking into the possibility of forming a cadet-type training scheme for 13-16 year olds. The scheme enables young people to gain firefighting skills through proper training, practical and physical exercises, coupled with fire safety and an emphasis on teamwork, allowing them to move into the ranks of a volunteer firefighter from the age of 16 onwards.
At this stage, we are looking for an indication of people who would be interested in joining a cadet scheme before we pursue this further. Please contact me for more information.
With summer approaching, please be aware of local fire restrictions and adhere to them accordingly.
Also, thank you to Landcare Okareka for inviting some of our members to participate in their upcoming training course. It’s great when community groups can work together to the benefit of both causes.
For any residents interested in joining the brigade or wanting to contact us, please don’t hesitate to phone me on 362 8874.
Phil Muldoon
Chief Fire Officer
Roll on summer! We certainly have had our fair share of rain, hail and snow over winter.
Your fire brigade has had an uncharacteristically quiet winter with very few call-outs, the most recent being a rubbish bin fire. This was reported to someone, who reported it to someone else, who reported it to someone else, who reported it to Firecoms. Have you ever heard of Chinese whispers? Well, this was more like Okareka whispers!
Please phone direct to 111 – they won’t bite. This prevents unnecessary delays and ensures the correct information is received. These types of fires (ie. rubbish bins) do seem quite harmless, until you discover those nice little gas cylinders cooking away in the embers – then it becomes quite serious.
We are looking into the possibility of forming a cadet-type training scheme for 13-16 year olds. The scheme enables young people to gain firefighting skills through proper training, practical and physical exercises, coupled with fire safety and an emphasis on teamwork, allowing them to move into the ranks of a volunteer firefighter from the age of 16 onwards.
At this stage, we are looking for an indication of people who would be interested in joining a cadet scheme before we pursue this further. Please contact me for more information.
With summer approaching, please be aware of local fire restrictions and adhere to them accordingly.
Also, thank you to Landcare Okareka for inviting some of our members to participate in their upcoming training course. It’s great when community groups can work together to the benefit of both causes.
For any residents interested in joining the brigade or wanting to contact us, please don’t hesitate to phone me on 362 8874.
Phil Muldoon
Chief Fire Officer
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