Last time I reported a quiet time for us – then the day after I wrote the article, we were called to a night time search and rescue in the bush at the back of Millar Road (11 pm Sunday to 3 am Monday), which was followed by a major house fire in Loop Road on the following morning (8.15 am Monday to 11.30 am)!! Since then we have had a suspected scrub fire between Crater Lake Farm and Tarawera – a real fire – lit by the land owners with no permit. The smoke was seen as far away as Rotorua Airport and a number of fire authorities were alerted.
In the near future we are to start on the extensions to the fire station. We have had the permit for some time but uncertainties on future direction have meant that we have held off until now. We would welcome any assistance from the community in this project – either expertise or materials, or even an extra pair of hands. Philip Muldoon is the Project Co-ordinator, so please contact him on 362 8874 if you are able to help. I would like to acknowledge the assistance so far from Stancorp Quarries, Fletcher Forests and Bay Concrete. Their donations of services and materials means we are off to a good start.
We also intend to upgrade the siren on the hall in the near future. I am told the present one is very efficient if you happen to live in the hall or the tennis courts, but that’s about as far as it goes!! Hopefully the sound from the new one will go out rather than down. Our thanks to Les Seekup for his help in this project.
Finally, remember winter is here at last. Watch out for ice on the roads, particularly black ice on Tarawera Road on the straight along by the farms. Also keep an eye on those chimneys – especially if you use any damp or treated firewood. Those tar deposits can smoulder away long after the fire is out in the fireplace, so keep the chimney as clear as possible.
STOP PRESS: It is my understanding that all “111” calls will go to a central control room in Auckland after 1 August 1998. This means it will be very important to give your location and/or address very accurately if you dial “111”, because the operators will not have the local knowledge to direct us to you, as at present.
Dave Field
Chief Fire Officer
Lake Okareka Fire
In the near future we are to start on the extensions to the fire station. We have had the permit for some time but uncertainties on future direction have meant that we have held off until now. We would welcome any assistance from the community in this project – either expertise or materials, or even an extra pair of hands. Philip Muldoon is the Project Co-ordinator, so please contact him on 362 8874 if you are able to help. I would like to acknowledge the assistance so far from Stancorp Quarries, Fletcher Forests and Bay Concrete. Their donations of services and materials means we are off to a good start.
We also intend to upgrade the siren on the hall in the near future. I am told the present one is very efficient if you happen to live in the hall or the tennis courts, but that’s about as far as it goes!! Hopefully the sound from the new one will go out rather than down. Our thanks to Les Seekup for his help in this project.
Finally, remember winter is here at last. Watch out for ice on the roads, particularly black ice on Tarawera Road on the straight along by the farms. Also keep an eye on those chimneys – especially if you use any damp or treated firewood. Those tar deposits can smoulder away long after the fire is out in the fireplace, so keep the chimney as clear as possible.
STOP PRESS: It is my understanding that all “111” calls will go to a central control room in Auckland after 1 August 1998. This means it will be very important to give your location and/or address very accurately if you dial “111”, because the operators will not have the local knowledge to direct us to you, as at present.
Dave Field
Chief Fire Officer
Lake Okareka Fire
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