Download PDF: Issue 9 - New Zealand Fire Service

Bay of Plenty fl oods
Battling through the
fl oods of May
By May 19 fi refi ghters had been
at incidents constantly for more
than 36 hours in Tauranga and
Matata, and were still busy.
Since early on May 18 the northern comcen had
received more than 900 phone calls which resulted in
more than 250 incidents being generated. It was likely
some incidents were not passed through the comcen so
the actual toll would have been closer to 270.
Command and control of Fire Service resources was
through liaison officers posted and operating in
conjunction with Civil Defence staff in Tauranga, Matata
and Whakatane. Fire Service liaison staff were also at the
national crisis management centre in the Beehive.
At the height of the fl oods 22 crews were at work, and
because some of these were larger than four people a total
of about 100 fi refi ghters were committed.
Three crews from Hamilton and two from Rotorua were
also sent to assist.
The Auckland-based urban search and rescue task force
was deployed to help with the clean-up.
Photos FOTOPRESS
4 Issue No. 9
Firefi ghters were mainly busy with fl ooded homes and
evacuations including rest homes and schools. Appliances
were used to ferry evacuees to safety, though in one case
the rescuers became the rescued when an appliance was
trapped by a mud slide.
The Edgecumbe crew working in Matata rescued seven
adults and four children, but the fi refi ghters along with
the residents were trapped for an hour while the mud was
cleared by earth moving equipment.
Matata fi re station became a community relief centre and
a place of haven for evacuees before they went to
Whakatane.