Volunteers of the Tarawera Fire Unit are building an equipment shed to store all their fire-fighting gear.
Chairman of the fire unit, Mr Graham West, says the Tarawera community has been most supportive of the volunteers.
The local ratepayers association has not only donated $6000 for the 800m² equipment shed at Stoney Point Reserve, it has also bought flameproof overalls and radios for the fire fighters.
In keeping with other rural fire-fighting forces such as those at Lake Okareka and Lake Rotoiti, Tarawera residents got together three years ago to form their own fire service.
Mr West says it was not just the risk of house fires but also the chance of scrub and bush fires, particularly in summer, which prompted the setting up of the fire unit.
This protective action of native bush was looked on favourably by the New Zealand Forest Service which supplied the unit with shovels, helmets and a portable pump.
He points out the fire unit is only a back up service to the Rotorua Fire Brigade. Tarawera fire fighters, however, are a great assistance to the city brigade when called out to the area because of their knowledge of local water supplies.
During the last three years the fire unit has only had to deal with two small rubbish fires and it was the volunteers’ knowledge of water sources which saved the day.
Mr West says Tarawera is lucky because although the residential area is stretched over 5km, most of the houses — a lot of which are holiday homes — are nearly on the lakefront or one section back which makes water access easy in the case of a fire.
He says the fire unit has also proved good for community spirit. Competitions are arranged between the three local volunteer fire units which, Mr West says, is good practice and gives the community a chance to get together.
Chairman of the fire unit, Mr Graham West, says the Tarawera community has been most supportive of the volunteers.
The local ratepayers association has not only donated $6000 for the 800m² equipment shed at Stoney Point Reserve, it has also bought flameproof overalls and radios for the fire fighters.
In keeping with other rural fire-fighting forces such as those at Lake Okareka and Lake Rotoiti, Tarawera residents got together three years ago to form their own fire service.
Mr West says it was not just the risk of house fires but also the chance of scrub and bush fires, particularly in summer, which prompted the setting up of the fire unit.
This protective action of native bush was looked on favourably by the New Zealand Forest Service which supplied the unit with shovels, helmets and a portable pump.
He points out the fire unit is only a back up service to the Rotorua Fire Brigade. Tarawera fire fighters, however, are a great assistance to the city brigade when called out to the area because of their knowledge of local water supplies.
During the last three years the fire unit has only had to deal with two small rubbish fires and it was the volunteers’ knowledge of water sources which saved the day.
Mr West says Tarawera is lucky because although the residential area is stretched over 5km, most of the houses — a lot of which are holiday homes — are nearly on the lakefront or one section back which makes water access easy in the case of a fire.
He says the fire unit has also proved good for community spirit. Competitions are arranged between the three local volunteer fire units which, Mr West says, is good practice and gives the community a chance to get together.
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