Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Brigade is the proud owner of a new water tanker. Pictured is Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Brigade firefighter Justin Smith.
The Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Brigade will tell you it is not easy to purchase a 14,000-litre water tanker.
The fire brigade was given a $33,000 grant by Transpower to buy a water tanker in 2011, with the only tanker near Rotorua at Lake Okareka.
Brigade firefighter Iain Breadmore said they approached Fonterra with the money to try to purchase one of its second-hand tankers.
"We got given a milk tanker. They are not designed to be filled up with water so we had to change the whole system," he said.
Mr Breadmore said since purchasing the milk tanker they had painted it and had converted all the piping.
"The flashing lights and all the fancy stuff doesn't arrive until the end of the month," he said.
"[But] the paint and pipe work is all done and it is an operational fire tanker now."
The fire brigade is holding an unveiling and blessing of the new water tanker on Sunday at the Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Brigade on Kokiri St. The public is welcome to attend from 1pm to 3pm.
Mr Breadmore said a lot of Rotorua businesses contributed towards the tanker and they wanted to hold an unveiling to show their appreciation.
He said the final cost for the water tanker was about $70,000 to $80,000, including all the equipment and piping.
Mr Breadmore said the water tanker was yet to be used in a proper fire, but was ready to go.
The fire brigade was given a $33,000 grant by Transpower to buy a water tanker in 2011, with the only tanker near Rotorua at Lake Okareka.
Brigade firefighter Iain Breadmore said they approached Fonterra with the money to try to purchase one of its second-hand tankers.
"We got given a milk tanker. They are not designed to be filled up with water so we had to change the whole system," he said.
Mr Breadmore said since purchasing the milk tanker they had painted it and had converted all the piping.
"The flashing lights and all the fancy stuff doesn't arrive until the end of the month," he said.
"[But] the paint and pipe work is all done and it is an operational fire tanker now."
The fire brigade is holding an unveiling and blessing of the new water tanker on Sunday at the Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Brigade on Kokiri St. The public is welcome to attend from 1pm to 3pm.
Mr Breadmore said a lot of Rotorua businesses contributed towards the tanker and they wanted to hold an unveiling to show their appreciation.
He said the final cost for the water tanker was about $70,000 to $80,000, including all the equipment and piping.
Mr Breadmore said the water tanker was yet to be used in a proper fire, but was ready to go.
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