Derek Lovell - New Zealand Fire Service

April 2008
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine
ISSUE
39
Derek Lovell
21/11/1958 – 5/4/2008

April 2008
Issue No. 39
Fire & Rescue is the flagship
publication of the New Zealand
Fire Service.
It is produced by Media,
Promotions and Communications,
National Headquarters,
Level 9, 80 The Terrace, Wellington.
Front Cover: SSO Derek Lovell
Back Cover: The van inferno as part of
Porirua Brigade’s training
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ISSN: 1176-6670
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without the permission of the editor.
4
14 16
Obituary Derek Lovell ............................................................................................3
Cover Story When one falls ......................................................................................4
Business The warning gets through ...............................................................6
Awards A Royal Honour ....................................................................................7
The Issue School of hard knocks .......................................................................8
Profile The next big thrill ..............................................................................10
18
A model firefighter ...........................................................................11
People Collection on display .......................................................................12
Vertical Challenge Let’s hear it for the girls ................................................................13
UFBA Conference Fun galore at the conference .....................................................14
Training Passing the torch ...............................................................................16
VANdalism ............................................................................................17
Incidents Head on .................................................................................................17
A Stavely home ..................................................................................18
Dangerous TV ......................................................................................19
Horeke scrub fire ..............................................................................20
Northern lights ...................................................................................20
In the Community A helping hand ...................................................................................21
Truck donation ....................................................................................22
Lincoln opens up ...............................................................................22
Fun & Games Out and about on the shore ......................................................23
Bald to the bone ...............................................................................24
Police taken to the cleaners in Kumeu ................................24
2008 Sports Calendar ...................................................................25
NZ Fire Service Volleyball Tournament 2008 ...................26
Noticeboard Notes and events .............................................................................27
23
24

Derek Lovell
It is with great sadness that I report the passing
of my wonderful friend, workmate and trusted
hunting companion, Derek Lovell, on the night
of the 5th April, 2008.
Never again will I have the opportunity to be in
the company of a man who I loved, respected and
trusted above all men.
Derek was my mate for 21 years, and we hunted
together on many, many occasions from the day
I first met him.
A month to the day since our last hunt and you
are gone forever.
Goodbye my dear friend, my mate, the “Worlds
Greatest Hunter”.
Farewell my brother.
Dog.
Blair Fothergill
Red Watch
Hamilton City Fire Station
Obituary
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine April 2008 3

4 Issue No. 39
Cover Story
When one falls
No firefighter ever travels to a false alarm call –
although they regularly come back from them.
Every callout is treated as a potential incident and
firefighters have come to expect the unexpected
every time they turn out.
On April 5, Hamilton’s Red Watch
responded to a fire alarm activation at
Icepak Group’s dairy coolstore in
Tamahare – on the south-east outskirts
of Hamilton. What they were called to
was a gas-leak. What developed had
catastrophic consequences.
At 4:21:13, seventeen minutes after the
initial call was made, Red Watch reported
nothing showing and so attempted entry into
the building.
At 4:29:47 entry was gained.
At 4:30:52 a major explosion was reported.
Eight firefighters were in the line of fire when the
explosion rocked the facility. After the explosion,
FF Cameron Grylls was still standing and found
SSO Derek Lovell, who had been blown off his
feet many metres away and was seriously injured
and unresponsive. A trained nurse, Grylls
immediately began CPR. A member of the
public who had rushed to the scene took
over CPR as Grylls radioed for help.
Due to the injuries sustained, all
firefighters were rushed to hospital.
Cameron was discharged shortly
after admission with minor burns to
his body.
The firefighters hospitalised were
Merv Neil, Dennis Wells, Adrian
Brown, David Beanland, Alvan
Walker and Brian Halford.
SSO Lovell later died from
injuries sustained in the blast.

The subsequent events have been
widely reported, but no words will
make up for the loss of SSO Lovell.
Condolence messages have poured in
from all around the world including
brigades from as far afield as the
United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and
Canada. It is a measure of the sense of
family in every fire service that this
tragedy was felt so strongly in places
far away.
A funeral was held for Derek the
Friday following the incident with a
procession through the streets of
Hamilton. His coffin was carried
through town on the back of a vintage
fire appliance whilst thousands lined
the streets to pay their respects.
At his funeral, SSO Lovell was remembered
as “never a boss, but a mate”.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine
HAM411 during the fire.
During his speech, SFF Dennis Wells said that early on in his
time at Hamilton, he had to pull Derek aside and say to him
“Derek, when you are in Hamilton do not start a statement
with ‘When I was in Auckland we used to do this.’ That
doesn’t go in Hamilton.”
All of the injured firefighters attended the funeral except for
Merv Neil who was undergoing a skin graft operation
in Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital. Cameron Grylls
commented, “It was just one of those calls that we go to day
in, day out, that turned to crap.”
Derek Lovell leaves behind his wife, Millie, daughters
Tiffany and Kayla, a loving family and a grieving
Fire Service.
Cover Story
April 2008
5

The warning gets through
Civil Defence Minister, Rick Barker, recently launched the new 24/7 Civil Defence
Emergency Management Warning and Advisory system.
Through an arrangement between the New Zealand Fire
Service and the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency
Management, the Fire Service will provide a 24/7
monitoring service and in pre-determined situations, issue
national warnings and advisories from their Northern
Communication Centre.
What it means is that there will now be a permanently
staffed 24/7 communication centre receiving and issuing
initial emergency information, and supporting the
Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management’s
on call team.
At the launch, Minister Rick Barker made the point that
“in the event of a civil defence emergency, the government’s
response needs to be as prompt and effective as possible
and the 24/7 system is about achieving that.
“As a result of the initiative, agencies, local Councils and
the civil defence and emergency management sector will
now get faster warnings of impending emergencies and
6 Issue No. 39
Business
R-L: Rick Barker with Mike Hall
and John Hamilton at the launch.
this will in turn result in faster, clearer information for
the public. This will also mean they can start their own
responses and preparing their communities sooner.”
National Commander, Mike Hall and Ministry of Civil
Defence and Emergency Management Director, John
Hamilton were on hand at the launch to demonstrate the
new capability and have both welcomed the initiative.
“The new system will also mean that more people are
available to react to information about an emergency,
and the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency
Management’s on call team will be freed up to focus
immediately on other national and local response activities.
“This new 24/7 communication centre and the agreement
between Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency
Management and the New Zealand Fire Service is a major
step forward for the sector’s ability to distribute
information and respond to a civil defence event or
emergency,” Mr Barker said.

A Royal Honour
In early April, four Fire Service personnel were recognised at a ceremony at Government
House where they received the Queen’s Service Medal for Community Service.
With a combined length of service of more than 140 years, these recipients bring
credit to themselves, their brigades and the Fire Service.
Bill Cranston, JP, served with
the Paraparaumu VFB for 40
years in a variety of
positions. He was CFO of
the Fire Police, brigade
secretary as well as treasurer.
Aside from Fire Service
related achievements, Bill
was acknowledged for his
other interests – including
being a member in the Royal
Forest and Bird Protection
Society and as an honourary
ranger for DOC.
CFO Ray Brown received
his medal in recognition of
his efforts and achievements
in the Hawke’s Bay. Ray has
been a firefighter in that
region for 30 years and
during that time has
contributed to the regional
management team as well as
taking a large part in
brigade competitions.
CFO Brian Schimanski from the Pleasant Point VFB has
been involved with the New Zealand Fire Service for over
three decades. He has been president of the UFBA and is
highly active in his local community as well as being a part
of the St John Ambulance First Response team.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine
Awards
CFO Ron Leonard from
Waiheke has been the Chief
there since 1987. His Fire
Service memorabilia collection
is considered second to none
and he’s been involved with the
Waiheke VFB for nearly 40
years. He has lent brilliant
support during civil defence
emergencies on the island and
contributed to the official
history of the Waiheke Brigade.
April 2008
7

School of hard knocks
“Fire ripped through a Northland School yesterday afternoon
destroying many of the buildings and devastating staff and pupils.
Almost 50 firefighters battled the blaze at Te Kura Kaupapa Ma - ori
O Taumarere school in Moerewa” screamed the Herald on Sunday in
late March. Another school fire, another arson and another teenager
picked up for the crime. The alleged offenders for this fire were a
16 year old girl, a 13 year old girl and boy and a 12 year old boy.
8 Issue No. 39
The Issue
TV3 ran the headline “Suspicious
school fire raises fears of arsonist at
work” less than two weeks earlier
when Rangeview Intermediate in
West Auckland caught fire, Freyburg
Community School was also attacked
– all these in 2008 alone.
These aren’t rare spikes either. Every
year since 1990 there are on average
44 suspected arsons on school
properties coming at an average cost
of $4 million dollars annually,
disturbingly this number hasn’t
looked like getting lower.
Rangeview board of trustees chairman
Derek van Beynen said, referring
to school fires. “We have got a serious
problem in this area.”
Fire decimated Hastings
Intermediate back in 2006.

After the Te Kura Kaupapa fire,
corporate communications manager
Scott Sargentina went on record in
an interview saying “We’ve made a
number of approaches to the Ministry
of Education, that the Fire Service
seems to be turning up to any number
of incidents each month in New
Zealand schools, whereas sprinklers
could make a marked difference in
terms of the devastation that fire
causes in those classrooms which fall
in high risk areas.”
The fires seem to strike resonance
with Education Minister Chris Carter,
who soon after the spate of school
disasters, requested that the Ministry
of Education investigate the
plausibility of retro-fitting all schools
with sprinkler systems, the current
legislation states that sprinklers are
required in:
• all new schools
• any building extension where the
completed building will have a
total floor area of greater than
1000 square metres
• new or substantially altered special
needs schools and special needs
units
• residential units at schools when
they are being built or substantially
altered.
Scott Sargentina noted that a complete
retrofit of all schools would be
“nirvana”; but at a price tag of $500
million the Fire Service understands
it’s not practical. “We know the
schools in the areas that are most at
risk, we’ve talked to the Ministry
about this and it’s these schools that
we’d like to see the sprinklers in.”
In February 2002 a report was
commissioned, providing economic
and social analysis of School Fires
in New Zealand. The report noted
that, in schools, “60-70% of serious
fires were caused by arson, and this
was a much higher proportion than
for other building types.” It then
goes on to say “initial investigation
suggests some correlation between the
number of school fires in an area and
the social deprivation of the area.”
This reinforces what was said by
Scott Sargentina.
One of the key issues the report raises
is that some schools were unclear about
regulations in regards to fire safety.
The Issue
Whose do they follow?
That process has been simplified now.
Brian Mitchell, implementation
manager from the property management
group at the Ministry of
Education was very quick to point to
the Ministry of Education website
where the ‘Property Management
Handbook for Schools’ and ‘Fire
Safety Design Guidelines’ (a part of
the handbook) were located.
“We make a great deal of effort in
getting the message to schools about
this very issue, we saw the gap in
knowledge and we moved to fill it.”
It is the belief of the Fire Service that
the best method is a targeted fit of
sprinklers to certain schools in certain
areas. Knowledge exists about which
schools in which areas these would
be it is just a question of encouraging
the funding of this exercise.
Perhaps the silver lining from the
Te Kura Kaupapa fire is the potential
realisation of this retrofit and the
start of an era where at-risk schools
are less susceptible to fire.
Principal Clive Hamill in front of
classrooms gutted by fire at
Melville High school in Hamilton.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine April 2008
9

The next big thrill
Hamilton CFO Gary Talbot used to work at NHQ as Manager Fire Safety Integration.
When he left to take up his new role, his seat was vacant for a while but has now been
filled by Alan Merry, our new Principal Fire Risk Management Advisor.
10 Issue No. 39
Profile
Alan hails from the south west of
Ireland where he was a Fire Officer
for Clare County Fire and Rescue
Service. He cut his engineer’s teeth in
the steel fabrication industry in Wales
before his time as a Fire Officer.
Then, in 2002, thirsting for a new
adventure, he headed to New Zealand
principally to indulge in the many
world acclaimed outdoor extreme
activities.
Once here he quickly settled in as
Fire Engineer for the Transalpine
and Southern Fire Regions, taking a
pro-active role in the fire safety area,
and furthering his outdoor education.
He spent six years in Christchurch
but now he’s jumped the strait to
Wellington.
In his role as Principal Fire Risk
Management Advisor, Alan will
be in charge of spreading the good
word on Fire Safety to help inform
strategy, promotional activity, business
planning and reporting of results
throughout the country.
He’s expected to be a one stop shop
of fire safety knowledge so his first
week at NHQ has had him busy
boning up on the latest paperwork.
As soon as he’s out of the office,
he’s in hot pursuit of the next thrill.
“I love playing in New Zealand’s
backyard, whitewater kayaking
through the rivers of the West Coast,
canoe polo, a bit of snowboarding in
the winter; it was the excitement and
outdoor lifestyle that brought me
here as well as furthering my career
with the New Zealand Fire Service.”
Despite Wellington’s more humble
sporting activities he says there’s a
buzz to the city that he likes, as well
as the chance to see what the North
Island can offer him.
Alan indulging in one of his weekend pursuits.

A model firefighter
There aren’t a lot of volunteer firefighters who can
lay claim to having been catwalk models. Even less
would have won the Smokefree ‘Face of the Year’
but there’s one out there who has done both.
Kingston CFO Tony Wilson with Terzann
at Wajax competition held in Te Anau.
Bubbly and offbeat, Terzann Elliot is a former international
model who said goodbye to the bright lights of the London
fashion scene. She now lives in Kingston down near
Queenstown, where she works in a boutique fashion store as
well as being a volunteer for the Kingston Voluntary Rural
Fire Force.
Terzann won the Smokefree Face of the Year contest as a 16
year old back in 1998 and since then has seen her face used
for selling fashion and beauty items. In 2006 she returned to
New Zealand to model for Zambesi and open up a Zambesi
store in Auckland.
Six months ago she made the move south and joined the
brigade as soon as she arrived. She suspected there was a
negative perception of what she was like that motivated her to
join up. “I think people thought I was just a precious model,
but I wanted to show people what I’m really like. Where else
would I be able to go out and my hands dirty like this? Learn
things I had no idea about? It’s a really good experience for
someone like me.”
Terzann is one of four women in the 20-strong Kingston
Volunteer brigade and she was part of the only mixed team at
the recent Wajax competition held in Te Anau. Despite her
team not gaining a place, the other Kingston team got third
overall, making Terzann really proud just to be part of the
Kingston group.
Profile
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine April 2008
11

By Betty Jeeves
Collection
on display
He’s been a publican in
Morrinsville and Pirongia,
a painter and decorator,
now owns Wanderlust
Backpackers in Katikati and
is a volunteer firefighter.
12 Issue No. 39
People
Scotty Miles also owns an
extensive collection of rugby
memorabilia, he still collects
the odd thing, but this has
given way to a new passion,
collecting fire engines and
related items.
One of the fun engines.
During the past eight years Scotty has
collected more than 273 fire engines,
and related items to fill numerous
display cabinets and shelves at
his backpackers establishment.
Many are antique, some battery
operated, hoses can spout water,
ladders can move, and they are
made of a variety of materials from
sandcast to tin, and synthetic.
The oldest dates about 1880 and the
companies who made them include
New Zealand’s own Fun Ho! which
hand-make each collectible, Matchbox,
Corgi, Franklin Mint and Seagrave
from the UK, USA, Germany,
Japan and China.
But Scotty didn’t set out to start
another collection, as he tells it,
“It just happened. I bought a couple
of Fun Ho!’s and decided to collect
them, it was something different.”
Scotty Miles with a small
part of his collection.
Small fire engines from Germany are
novelties designed to decorate a
Christmas tree, some appliances are
horse drawn and quite tiny, but there
are large engines too, complete with
firefighters.
Looking at the collection it is not
difficult to see how appliances have
changed through the years, and
colours too have altered as is evident
in the blue, white, yellow, lime green,
dark green and iridescent orange
engines.
Certificates of authenticity accompany
many of the miniatures, some limited
editions, in mint condition, and have
never been out of the box. There is
even one of only 100 produced.
Exciting things can happen at auction
and in Auckland Scotty was the only
one to bid, $5, on a box of three
unseen bears, thinking he would
present them to his nieces and
nephews. However it’s funny how
things turn out, for when the box was
opened he was delighted to find a
Texaco Fire Chief teddy bear. Later at
an antique shop in Paeroa Scotty
found a plaque that went with the
bear – not for sale – but he managed
to persuade the owner to part with it
to complete the set.

Let’s hear it for the girls
By Carmen Daniela
Let’s face it ladies, we’re a minority in
the Fire Service which is not necessarily
a bad thing, especially when it comes to
competitions. There’s so few of us that
in whatever competition, race or games
the Fire Service has to offer, chances
are you’ll get a placing or some kind of
recognition for your efforts!
I come from a one-pump brigade in Tokomaru, 20
minutes south of Palmerston North. Four years ago I
decided to give the Sky Tower Vertical Challenge a
crack. Even getting to the event was tricky, I faced
injuries, not being able to get decent training gear
even having a baby, but that’s life and you work with
it. And the great thing with the Tower Challenge is
that it’s not a spectator sport, once you’re in the
Tower, you’re out of sight, no-one to watch you
stagger up the stairs.
There’s not a huge presence as far as female
competitors go, although I’m glad to say there’s more
of us giving it a go. And with the 2008 race in May, if
you ever thought of competing, now is the time to
start your training, begin fundraising, saving for
airfares, and preparation. And at the risk of sounding
cliché, if I can do it anyone can. I’m the laziest, most
non athletic person around, hadn’t run a step since
high school, mum of three little ones with hardly any
time to train or raise money, but I have run three Sky
Towers and competed twice in the World Firefighter
Stair-climb Challenge in Seattle, the first NZ female
fighter to compete.
Here’s the stats – 1024 steps, 49 flights of the
Auckland Sky Tower, preceded by a 200m run for the
city block before leading up to the Tower base, in full
Combat gear wearing a BA donned or donned and
started – the two categories. The race raises money
and awareness for the Leukemia and Blood
Foundation NZ.
I’ve put together a training programme that you can
find on Firenet under General Notices. So really
there’s nothing to stop you from getting amongst it
and meeting me there.
Vertical Challenge
Carmen at the start of the Sky Tower.
The Kiwi team, Seattle 2008
(Carmen front right).
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine April 2008
13

The UFBA Conference was held in mid-March and as reported
in Fire & Rescue, a couple of exciting events sandwiched the conference.
Story by Gareth Wallis
Pictures by Eryn Wilson
On the 14 th and 15 th, Richmond
played host to both the National
Road Crash Rescue Challenge and
the National Firefighter Combat
Challenge.
14 Issue No. 39
UFBA Conference
The Road Crash Rescue (RCR)
Challenge was held over two glorious
days and attracted 12 top teams from
as far north as Silverdale and as far
south as Balclutha. All competitors
participated in a four-hour Learning
Symposium before the RCR Challenge
itself, as well as undertaking a
workshop session with NZFS trainers
from Auckland.
Morrinsville took out first place
overall, with Andrew Lidguard
winning best overall team leader
and Steve Tuffery getting best medic
as well. Whitianga were close behind
them in second overall and also
took out the ‘best technical award’.
For a full list of winners check the
back page.
In addition to the RCR Challenge,
138 competitors travelled to Nelson
to compete in the second ever
National Firefighter Combat Challenge.
Competitors participated in a
Learning Symposium prior to the
competition itself with Dr Paul Davis,
founder of the Firefighter Combat
Challenge, and Staff Sgt. Bill Gates,
top 10 US competitor, giving all
participants some top-notch tips and
tricks about the challenge. The expert

advice obviously paid off with six
Open Male competitors recording
sub two-minute times in the finals.
The big winners were Hayden Kinzett
from RNZAF Whenuapai who took
out the open men’s title in a time of
1:45.31 – nearly 8 seconds ahead of
his nearest competitor Jade South
from Hutt while Auckland’s Ange
Munroe comfortably won the open
women’s event in a time of 3:01.87 –
over a minute and a half ahead
of second placed Liz Whakataka of
Tolaga Bay. Once more a full list
of competition results can be found
on the back page.
Immediately after the conference, the
highly anticipated Stay Alive Expo
was held. After hugely successful
events in Hamilton (2005) and
Feilding (2007), it was Nelson’s turn
to host.
This years Staying Alive Expo
consisted of a two-day school’s
programme followed by a public
Open Day. Approximately 2,700
school children went through a
10-activity education programme
as part of the school’s programme.
The Fire Service, St John, Police,
Water Safety and a variety of other
organisations held 15 minute
UFBA Conference
education sessions where children
were taught important safety
messages. There were several fun
activities included to break up the
learning and then the children were
given a take home pack to help
reinforce the safety messages, before
getting on the bus to head back
to school.
Over 8,000 people attended the
public Open Day on the Saturday
which is somewhere in the vicinity of
10% of the local population – a very
impressive turn out! The highlight of
the day was the House of Hazards
burn and this event alone attracted a
huge crowd. The buy-in to the event
by local emergency service and safety
organisations was incredible and
huge thanks must be extended to
them for all the time and effort
they put into making the day such a
huge success. The enthusiasm and
commitment to the event by local
Fire Service staff, especially the
Nelson career crews, was amazing
and a genuine tribute to the Region.
Feedback since the event has all
been incredibly positive and while
the post-event enthusiasm lingers,
local firefighters and Fire Service
management are looking at doing
something similar again next year.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine April 2008
15

Passing the torch
16 Issue No. 39
Training
In the same week that the Fire Service lost one of its own, 22 new recruits were
being congratulated on completing their training at a sombre ceremony held in Rotorua.
After a grueling 12 week course at Rotorua’s
National Training Centre, the new recruits were
welcomed into the service proper by National
Commander Mike Hall and Fire Service
Commission Chairperson Dame Margaret Bazley.
In his speech, Mike Hall said he hoped he could
allay some fears no doubt felt by the new firefighters’
family and friends. Mike said that in the past 10
years, 499 people had died in construction, farming,
forestry and truck driving jobs. Since 1945 there
have been four firefighters killed in the line of duty,
including Mr Lovell.
“Many people, myself included, come to our
profession for among other reasons the excitement
and perhaps even the hint of danger. There is no
doubt it can be so. But as we have been reminded so
clearly this week, there can be another very tragic side
to the story.”
It was said that safety in the New Zealand Fire Service
was paramount and its record was exceptional.
“We as a fire service do not glory in unnecessary
risk nor do we accept that any level of death or
injury is an acceptable price to pay for our role as
firefighters.”
As well as the traditional handing over of their red
recruit helmets and receiving their yellow firefighters’
helmets, there was a demonstration of the skills
learned over the duration of the training, including
using the jaws of life to cut someone from a car,
search and rescue techniques in fallen buildings,
climbing 14m and 10m long ladders, going to
chemical spills and searching for hazardous
substances, decontamination showers, hose
running and rescues from a burning building.
A moments silence was
observed for Derek Lovell.
Pictures: Daily Post

This spectacular image came from the recent
Porirua ‘Van Burn’ training exercise. A van was
sacrificed to ensure that the Porirua Brigade stayed
in tip top shape when it came to car fires. The van
was set alight from the back of the carriage before
taking hold of the entire van.
There was also a medical component to the training
exercise ensuring that a worthwhile time was had.
Incidents
HeAdon
Two men were lucky not
to lose their lives after a
head-on smash just north
of Rotorua.
Two kilometres north of the Mamaku
turnoff on State Highway 5 two
vehicles met one another head-on in
an accident that saw the drivers of
both vehicles air-lifted to Waikato
Hospital, fortunately there were no
passengers in either car.
One man was trapped in his car
and bystanders reassured the man
until emergency services arrived. The
jaws of life were needed to cut him
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine
free from the wreckage. He received
serious leg and head injuries.
The other driver was assisted out of
his car by members of the public and
was able to walk.
Training
VANdalism
Both men were reported to be in a
stable condition. The crash saw the
road closed for two hours as crash
investigators began their work.
April 2008
17

A Stavely home
Arson has been the buzz-word around fire safety over the last month. It’s been a particularly
bad time for it. Earlier in the magazine there was an article that talked about the fire at Te Kura
Kaupapa School in Northland. And at the other end of the country the Stavely Building in Dunedin
went up one Saturday night and a number of businesses went with it.
The Fire started around 1.40am and
firefighters were called when a police
patrol noticed smoke pouring from a
window in one of the upper levels.
30 firefighters battled the blaze for
several hours, working tirelessly to
prevent the fire spreading to other
buildings.
The building’s tenants were a curtain
maker, a ballet school, a storage
business and a flat. Initially there
18 Issue No. 39
Incidents
were fears that there may have been
someone in the flat so an ambulance
was called but these fears proved
unfounded.
Dunedin CFO Dave Seque said that
the building’s age – it was built in
1879 – and the number of alterations
to the structure over the years made
it a difficult fire to fight. “Finding the
seat of the fire was difficult. It was
dark, full of smoke; in the end we
were worried about the structural
integrity of the building.”
On Sunday afternoon after the fire
was public news, a woman reported
seeing three youths breaking into
the building at 7.30pm the previous
night with bolt cutters. As yet the
police still have not found these
three youths but are focusing their
attention on them.
FSO Barry Gibson has found it
difficult to conduct a thorough
investigation as falling debris from
the storage units has made life
difficult. A 1970s Holden Cortina, a
Triumph Herald and a Mercedes
Benz had come crashing through.
“There are some cars that have fallen
through the floor – the area where
the fire is believed to have started is
underneath that” said Barry.

They’ve always said that television would be the destruction of society.
What they didn’t say was that it would do it one house at a time.
A three storey house in Mairangi Bay, Auckland was the
first to fall victim to this new danger when a 14-inch
television combusted and tried to take the house with it.
Resident Jeremy Kullett was sleeping when something
awoke him and right away he noticed something wasn’t
right. “The television four feet from me was on fire.
I tried to smother the fire with a towel, but that caught
fire too.”
He fled downstairs and outside with the towel so that “it
wouldn’t burn down the house.” The towel safely
extinguished, he returned to alert his flatmates of the
ensuing disaster but he could see that the fire was already
spreading at a dangerously rapid rate.
“I was in a bit of shock... I just
wanted to keep everyone safe and
alive and call the fire brigade,” he
said. One of the flatmates called
111 as they got out of the house.
Firefighters were able to put the
flames out in 15 minutes but stayed
behind for hours dampening
out hotspots.
The only smoke alarm
in the building had no
batteries.
SO Steve Callagher said that “most fires that get out of
control are house fires with no smoke alarms. It’s lucky
there wasn’t a fatality.”
SO Callagher says when there is a fire, people need to get
out, closing doors on the way out, and stay out.
The bathroom with its door closed was untouched by
the fire – proof that closing doors minimises the size, damage
and spread of the fire. It’s also a good idea to switch your
TV off at the wall when you’re finished watching it.
The other concern of course is,
if this is the damage a 14-inch TV
can cause, just what are the
40-inch plasma and LCD versions
plotting?
East Coast Bays SO Steve Callagher in the Mairangi Bay house.
Incidents
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine April 2008
19

Horeke scrub fire
northern lights
20 Issue No. 39
Incidents
A funeral held at a Marae
nearly took more with it than
just the honoured when a
rubbish burn-off after the event
is believed to have caused this
scrub fire.
The fire occurred in late February in
Horeke, north of Whangarei. Seven
firefighters from Okaihau VFB and
seven from Kaikohe VFB attended,
bringing with them two appliances
and a tanker. The Okauhau brigade
attempted to control the fire but was
forced back by a lack of water and
swirling winds which were leading the
fire towards the Marae which Kaikohe
were protecting.
Fortunately, at this time, a helicopter
arrived and brought the fire under
control after several hours of sustained
water treatment.
Suspicious fires made for a
busy night in the northern
suburbs of Wellington mid
March as firefighters were
called to two scrub fires in
Johnsonville and Churton
Park.
This image is from the Churton
Park fire which happened near
the motorway onramp and for
a while was threatening a
residential areas.
The first fire broke out just
after 9pm and crews had just
got the flames under control
when another fire broke out
across the bridge.

A helping hand
The Fire Service likes to take part in things. It likes to take part in things with other people.
As such, the Fire Service is part of the ACC’s Partnership Programme. This programme allows us
to take responsibility for managing all of our workplace injuries. Each year we are required to
undergo an external audit to renew our accreditation in this programme.
National Manager of Safety and Wellbeing
Julian Hughes presents the cheque.
Late 2007 and the Fire Service
presented the donation to Ronald
McDonald house – approximately
$6,000. Rebecca Shadwell,
Fundraising Manager received the
donation on behalf of Ronald
McDonald House and was very
thankful. Following the presentation
Rebecca provided a guided tour of
the facility and we got to meet some
of the children and staff.
We combined this presentation with
a visit from Mike McEnaney from
Fire Safety and a crew and appliance
from Parnell station.
This was a very successful event and
combined a positive contribution to
a worthy charity with promotion of
key fire safety messages.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine
In the Community
By Julian Hughes
In 2007 this audit was completed in
the Auckland Fire Region at the City,
Parnell and Remuera stations. The
Auditor, Jenny Webb asked that the
proceeds from the audit be donated
to a charity of our choosing.
It was decided to donate the audit fee
to Ronald McDonald House based at
Auckland Hospital. This facility
provides accommodation and a place
for families to stay when their
children are being treated at Starship.
It is a national facility and provides a
safe and secure place for families to
stay in times of significant need. The
facility is run entirely on grants and
donations.
The crew from Parnell are very popular.
April 2008
21

Truck donation
It’s not uncommon for community groups to donate money to Brigades to spend on new things
(see the Jet Skis from last issue) but it is a tad rarer when an
entire truck is donated but it was that good fortune
that befell Mossburn VFB recently.
Meridian Energy has recently been constructing
a Wind Farm on White Hill and the truck was
stationed there during that construction Paul
Wilson from Meridian said that they are
delighted to be able to help out.
“Part of the While Hill’s project’s fire risk
management plan was to purchase a fire truck.
Now that we have finished construction, the risk
of fire is much less so the truck is surplus to
requirements. We are sure that the truck will
benefit the community greatly.”
CFO Steve Trusler was understandably stoked.
“It isn’t every day that you get given a fire truck
so we are truly grateful to the Meridian team at
White Hill.
“The new truck will definitely make our job a lot
easier. It will be perfect for fighting scrub fires which
we see a lot of around here due to the condition of
the terrain.”
Mossburn CFO Stephen Trusler receives the keys
to the new truck from Paul Wilson, Meridian
Energy Projects Delivery Manager – Southern.
Picture: Graham Dainty Photo / Art Fiordland
Lincoln opens up By Jeremy Greenwood
Open Days are a great way to
connect with the local community.
People always love to see firefighters
in action and the Lincoln VFB open
day held recently was no different.
Brigade members carried out demonstrations
throughout the day including co-ordinated
water attacks, vehicle extrication, a combat
challenge, waterway runs and the ubiquitous
kitchen fire demonstrator.
Other emergency services got in on the act
with Christchurch Airport Crash Fire, the
Police and St John’s Ambulance among
others who took part.
There were a wide variety of activities for the kids
including a bouncy castle and hose squirting.
22 Issue No. 39
In the Community
Around 2000 people attended with most making a beeline
for Sockburn’s new type 3 Scania, City’s new type 5 and
the command unit.

Pictures: Nick Clifford Auckland Fire police
More than 15 volunteer groups
supported by New Zealand Fire
Service staff from throughout
Auckland joined forces for the
Volunteer and Emergency Service
open Day. The event was opened up
to all Volunteer groups throughout
Auckland, these included the SPCA
and the Burn Support Group
Charitable Trust.
Emergency services groups included
NZ Police, NZ Fire, St John
ambulance, USAR Task Force 3, Civil
Defense, Coastguard, Military Bomb
Disposal and the New Zealand
Defense Force.
Auckland Fire Safety and Promotions
staff set up a number of Fire Safety
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine
out and about
on the shore
By Terry Hewit
North Harbour Stadium came alive on late March,
not to crowds of rugby enthusiasts but to the noise
of fire appliances, ambulances and Police. The stadium
was transformed to display Auckland’s emergency
capability and showcased the vital input that nonemergency
volunteers have to the community.
Education displays including the
kitchen fire demonstrator, the new
home sprinkler demonstrator and the
Wendy house, all these tools provided
exciting displays throughout the day,
people were surprised at just how
quickly a pot of fat can burst into
flame igniting surroundings.
Career staff from Takapuna station
drew a large crowd showcasing the
work they do at serious motor vehicle
accidents where injured people require
extraction utilizing the Jaws of life.
A big draw card for the day was the
attendance of the Police Helicopter
Eagle, Westpac Rescue Helicopter
and Skyworks AS 350 B3 single
engine Helicopter. Skyworks provided
Fun & Games
a display of rural fire fighting utilizing
a monsoon bucket and supported
by the Titirangi Volunteer Air
attack unit.
The New Zealand Army Bomb squad
even showcased their robot and
carried out simulated bomb removal
techniques.
The kids Firefighter Challenge run by
Tony Scott Firefighter from Crash
Fire Auckland Airport attracted a
queue of children. Water and children
mix well it appears as adults were
getting pay back from their children!
An estimated 5000 people attended
the event meaning all volunteer
groups found the day as a successful
recruiting day.
April 2008
23

Bald to the bone
It takes a bold woman to shave off all her hair but bold
is exactly what Elizabeth Grieve is, as well as bald.
Business Analyst from NHQ,
Elizabeth Grieve, lost her flowing
locks late March in an effort to raise
money for the Cancer Society Relay
for Life she took part in.
There were the usual money raising
ventures done, sausage sizzles, raffles
and so on but there was one event
that stood Elizabeth above most
charity-supporters. She put her hair
on the line if enough money was bid.
Everything was going swimmingly
until a renegade group was established
to try and convince Elizabeth to keep
her hair. An agreement was reached
that if more was raised to keep her
Police taken to the
cleaners in Kumeu
Inter-service rivalry is alive and well in Kumeu if
a recent skeet shooting competition between the
Fire Service and Police is anything to go by.
To make the competition a bit more
interesting, it was agreed the team
with the lowest score had to wash
24 Issue No. 39
Fun & Games
hair than to shave it then
keep it she shall – but
regardless, all the money
pledged would be collected.
In the end shaving won
out $665 to $410 and so
off it came. Elizabeth isn’t
worried though “I’ve got a
cute wee skull” she said
tongue in cheek “and
anyway, it’s hair and it will
grow back soon.”
Through all her efforts,
Elizabeth’s team has
managed to raise $5,365.50.
the other team’s vehicles – in uniform,
on the main road!
“This added incentive clearly
worked,” said Kumeu SFF Simon
Shields. “We won by a
wide margin – probably
as wide as some of their
shots – and wasted no
time in handing out the
mops, squeegees and
buckets of water.”
To their credit, the Police
honoured the agreement
and did a fine job of
cleaning the trucks, much
to the amusement of
All washed-up. Constable’s Donna a’Beckett and Neil Calder
do their bit to keep the Kumeu VFB fleet bright and shiny.
Elizabeth sporting her new
aerodynamic hair do.
passing pedestrians and drivers.
However, knowing how much the
Police were smarting from the
embarrassment, Simon jokingly
reports that the Kumeu VFB members
have all ensured that the warrants
and regos on their private cars are all
up-to-date. “I’m not saying they’ll
purposely go out of their way to
‘ping’ us for infringements but you
can tell they’re not happy!!”
We can all be thankful that the Fire
Service won. If they hadn’t, the
counter bet would have seen them
washing police cars in Level 2 jackets
and underpants.

2008
Sports Sports
Calendar Calendar
May 3rd 2008
national darts
Tournament
Papamoa
sanford@orcon.net.nz
June 6-7th 2008
national Volley Ball
Tournament
Whangarei
scott.kitchen@fire.or.nz
July 19-20th 2008
national Snooker
Tournament
Masterton
Anita.Schischka@fire.org.nz
September 2008
Wellington Multisport
Race
Porirua Harbour
turi.hodges@fire.org.nz
May 16-18th 2008
national Squash
Tournament
New Plymouth
Rachel.lind@fire.org.nz
July 6th 2008
Taranaki Provincial
Snooker
Hawera
dudley.colin@fire.org.nz
August 4-7th 2008
national Trout Fishing
Tournament
Turangi
francarmstrong@hotmail.com
September 26-27th 2008
national Basketball
Tournament
Wellington
roger.stead@fire.org.nz
May 25th 2008
Bay Waikato Annual
Golf Tournament
Putaruru Golf Club
Putikoura@fire.org.nz
Contact 027 323 0538
July 6th 2008
Wellington Provincial
Golf Tournament
Feilding
warren.dunn@fire.org.nz
August 27-28th 2008
north Island Alpine Ski
Championships
Ohakune
Ohakune@fire.org.nz
october 8-10th 2008
national Golf
Tournament
Gisborne
jack.glassford@fire.org.nz
Fun & Games
Get out those calendars because there are a few dates coming up
that you best put a ring around.
May 2007
Wairarapa Sub Assoc.
Golf Tourament
Carterton Golf Club
henry.stechman@fire.org.nz
July 19th 2008
South Island VolleyBall
Tournament
Christchurch
michael.cockburn@fire.org.nz
August 31st 2008
Wellington Provincial
Fire Brigades Indoor
Bowls Tournament
Wellington
denchy@xtra.co.nz
october 2008
Interservices Softball
Tournament
Trentham Army Base
Wellington
rjggriff@hotmail.com
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine April 2008
25

nZ Fire Service
Volleyball Tournament 2008
6 th and 7 th June 2008
The Whangarei Fire Brigade invites all
Fire Service personnel to the Annual NZFS
Volleyball tournament to be held at the
Genesis energy Stadium,
Kensington Fitness Centre, Whangarei
Thursday 5th June:
Registration, Whangarei Station Bar, 1800 onwards
Friday 6th June:
Seeded games / Round Robin, 0900 onwards
Saturday 7th June:
Semi-finals and Finals, 1000;
Prizegiving and dinner, 1800
Any queries, please contact Scott Kitchen scott.kitchen@fire.org.nz
26 Issue No. 39
Fun & Games
The entry fee of $25 per player must accompany
the entry form. This fee covers entry into either
grade as well as a dinner on the Saturday night.
Please make cheques out to:
Whangarei Fire Brigade Volleyball Club
Post to: Volleyball Event Organiser
c/- Whangarei Fire Brigade,
12 Mansfield Terrace, Whangarei
entries close Friday 16th May 2008

COMBAT CHALLENGE
Two-person team 3rd place – Sharp Fellas (James
Sharp and Hamish Dalziell)
Two-person team 2nd place – Spartans (Angela
Munro and Doug Kinsella)
Two-person team 1st place – Los Burros
(Jarad Cowie and Rob Holah)
Four-person team 3rd place – Silverdale
(Shannan Fraser, Lewis Trickett, Ali Turner
and Mike Williamson)
Four-person team 2nd place – Air Force One
(Hayden Kinzett, Doug King, Mick Wansink
and Caleb McCarthy)
Four-person team 1st place – Trentham
Warriors (James Sharp, Hamish Dalziell,
Jade South and Richard Larkin)
Over 40 Male 3rd place – Warren Davis
(Mossburn)
Over 40 Male 2nd place – Sean Jackman (Cust)
Over 40 Male 1st place – Graham McIntyre
(Waitakere Rural Fire)
Over 50 Male 3rd place – Ian Topp (Wairau Valley)
Over 50 Male 2nd place – Tom Reid (Christchurch
Airport Fire)
Over 50 Male 1st place – Ray Pratt (Christchurch)
Open Female 3rd place – Joy Davidson (Tawa)
Open Female 2nd place – Liz Whakataka
(Tolaga Bay)
Open Female 1st place – Angela Munro (Auckland)
Open Male 3rd place – Steve Fairweather
(Auckland Airport Fire)
Open Male 2nd place – Jade South (Hutt Valley)
Open Male 1st place – Hayden Kinzett (RNZAF
Whenuapai)
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine
Keeping it green
Noticeboard
RCR Challenge
Spirit of the Challenge – Cromwell
Best Medic – Morrinsville (Steve Turffery)
Best Team Leader – Morrinsville
(Andrew Lidguard)
Best Technical Team – Whitianga
Immediate 3rd Place – Stratford
Immediate 2nd Place – Greytown
Immediate 1st Place – Morrinsville
Controlled 3rd Place – Greytown
Controlled 2nd Place – Morrinsville
Controlled 1st Place – Whitianga
Entrapped 3rd Place – Blenhiem
Entrapped 2nd Place – Feilding
Entrapped 1st Place – Morrinsville
4th Place Overall – Greytown
3rd Place Overall – Balclutha
2nd Place Overall – Whitianga
1st Place Overall – Morrinsville
Fire & Rescue is printed on 9lives Paper. This is an environmentally friendly stock that is
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The inks used in production of this report are vegetable oil based with only
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The wash used with these inks was Bottcherin 6004, which is water miscible,
Aromatic free and corrosion inhibited.
April 2008
27

The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine
Published April 2008
By the new Zealand Fire Service
Media, Promotions & Communications
National Headquarters, Wellington
www.fire.org.nz