Download PDF: Issue 9 - New Zealand Fire Service
Download PDF: Issue 9 - New Zealand Fire Service
Download PDF: Issue 9 - New Zealand Fire Service
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Local leaders, including Mayor Stuart<br />
Crosby and sports celebrities, had a<br />
taste of what is required to be a<br />
firefighter. They went through the<br />
physical competency test in Red<br />
Square.<br />
Ron said even though the challenge<br />
wasn’t fi re safety specifi c, the level of<br />
participation by local leaders and<br />
sports people reflected their<br />
commitment to a worthy cause.<br />
It was designed to get public attention<br />
and was a fun way for people to learn<br />
about the dangers of fi re. <strong>Fire</strong> safety<br />
was a serious subject, but needed to<br />
be lightened up, he said.<br />
The level of fitness and strength<br />
required in lugging weights and<br />
hauling dummies surprised<br />
contestants. Bay of Plenty Steamers<br />
rugby player Charles Baxter said the<br />
challenge was “physically tough”<br />
and he would choose a full-on<br />
rugby game over this any day. The<br />
celebrities had an unfair advantage as<br />
they teamed up in two’s to challenge<br />
the chief fi re offi cer. Notwithstanding<br />
this the boss achieved 3 minutes 19<br />
seconds individually and was not far<br />
“... weights and hauling<br />
dummies surprised<br />
contestants.”<br />
behind the team effort with the best<br />
time being 2 minutes 14 seconds.<br />
To add to the attraction and<br />
entertainment, Tauranga’s Westpac<br />
building in Red Square got a hosing<br />
down by Tauranga firefighters.<br />
This got the attention required,<br />
getting live coverage on one of the<br />
local Radioworks stations whose<br />
offi ce is in the building.<br />
Key organizers of the event<br />
Murf Arndell and Richard<br />
Moreland said the campaign<br />
was designed to target urban<br />
shopping, industry and commercial<br />
areas and was aptly named Take <strong>Fire</strong><br />
Safety Home.<br />
The week’s programme included a<br />
travelling road show where fi refi ghters<br />
visited all main shopping centres<br />
giving live demonstrations of kitchen<br />
and car fi res and providing a range of<br />
fi re safety activities for children. The<br />
mobile fi re shop enabled the public to<br />
view fi re safety footage on screen and<br />
to talk to fi refi ghters about home fi re<br />
safety.<br />
Safety week<br />
The event was covered by local<br />
radio with breakfast interviews at<br />
the fi re station, celebrity kitchen<br />
fire checks and live cross-overs.<br />
Murf and Richard were pleased<br />
with the public’s response and said<br />
it would not have happened<br />
without the support of main street<br />
managers and commercial<br />
sponsorship.<br />
The <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong> <strong>Fire</strong> <strong>Service</strong> Magazine May/June 2005<br />
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