Fire & Rescue issue 5.indd - New Zealand Fire Service

Dec 2004/Jan 2005 – Issue No. 5
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine
Christmas Spirit

December 2004/January 2005
Issue No. 5
Fire & Rescue is the fl agship
publication of the New Zealand
Fire Service.
It is produced by Media,
Promotions and Communications,
National Headquarters,
Level 9, 80 The Terrace, Wellington.
We are happy to consider ideas
for stories and features.
Cover picture
Station offi cer Dave Woon (rear)
left to right senior fi refi ghter Peter Cranwell,
fi refi ghters Peter Langford and Matthew Salt
at the offi cial opening of the famous
Christmas lights in Franklin Road, Ponsonby.
Story: Page 27.
Photos: Dean Treml.
Contact us by email at:
Susan.grant@fi re.org.nz
Tel: 04-496-3716
Or write to:
Editor,
Fire & Rescue Magazine,
NZ Fire Service,
P O Box 2133,
Wellington
Fire & Rescue is online at
www.fi re.org.nz
ISSN: 1176-6670
All material in Fire & Rescue magazine is
copyrighted and may not be reproduced
without the permission of the editor.
7
8 14
SMS update
Identifying risk – SMS in action ...................................................................................3
New initiatives
Sockburn labels add courtesy to call-outs ..................................................................4
On-line ordering for national promotional resources... .........................................5
New complaints feedback policy developed .............................................................6
Firefi ghters’ views sought on Fire Service future ......................................................6
National training facility project blessed ......................................................................7
Highway hero’s fi re skills save a life - twice ..............................................................7
Appointment
Special ops “Ninja” ...................................................................................................................8
Incidents
Diffi cult incident in Wellington crane .............................................................................9
Fire blackens Christmas plans ........................................................................................10
Windy Wanganui ...................................................................................................................11
Refl ections of a storm .........................................................................................................11
Joint exercise tests ship fi re skills ..................................................................................11
Hydrogen peroxide spill .....................................................................................................12
Birds under the bonnet .......................................................................................................12
Driver cut out of car .............................................................................................................12
Forced landing .........................................................................................................................13
Timber yard incident ............................................................................................................13
Training
Canterbury gears up for summer heat .....................................................................14
Prepared for the fi re season ............................................................................................16
Fire safety
Civic award in Palmerston North ..................................................................................17
What goes on behind closed doors? ...........................................................................18
Ignored smoke alarms prompt safety day out .....................................................20
Keeping abreast of fi re safety ........................................................................................21
Free barbeque .........................................................................................................................21
Fire message delivered to rural schools ....................................................................22
FireWise gets a fresh approach ....................................................................................22
Profi le NGARUAWAHIA ....................................................................................................23
Snapshots
Wellington Gold Star Tournament ................................................................................17
Sports Council Event Calendar 2005 ........................................................................20
Saudi fi refi ghter proves the brotherhood ..................................................................24
Hamilton plans to top record cancer walk .............................................................25
Auckland tennis and squash ...........................................................................................25
Fire crews meet the World’s Fastest Indian ............................................................26
New orientation programme ..........................................................................................26
Cover story
The spirit of Christmas in Ponsonby ............................................................................27
16 22 26

SMS update
Identifying risk –
SMS IN ACTION
The work Timaru fi refi ghters (pictured) are doing to identify properties at greater risk
in their patch is an example of the station management system (SMS) in action.
Every fi re station needs to break its
goals down into something that is
relevant to the fi re risks in its patch
and which ones are likely to need
fi refi ghters’ attention, says director,
strategic development Ian Pickard.
To do this they must identify the risks
within their patch and what they plan
to do to reduce those risks. This
action requires a process of risk
analysis. There are a number of ways
that this analysis can be carried out:
• Using emergency response
statistics to identify trends
• Using the statistics available on
the social and economic
deprivation index
• Using their local knowledge of
their patch
“In many cases it is a combination of
all three and then using a community
fi re risk management principle they
can then decide on the specifi c risk
reduction goals and targets within a
certain patch.”
The community fi re risk management
process is a way that allows fi refi ghters
to identify, prioritise and manage the
fi re risk at a local level.
Senior station offi cer Martyn Bennett (left)
and fi refi ghter Gary Harford rate another
home for its fi re risk as part of a survey of
every property in Timaru. This is an example
of the station management system in action.
Information is collected on all
buildings and occupancy types within
their patch and is recorded and stored
electronically in an information
management system as part of SMS.
Each building and activity carried out
in the building is given a fi re risk score
that is then compared across all
buildings in a geographical area to
decide on what fi re safety advice can
be targeted to the owners, managers,
and occupiers of the buildings that
score the worst fi re risk total.
“The information that firefighters
collect on buildings and occupancy
types does improve their knowledge
of fi re risk within their patch. Then
by using their operational knowledge
and experience of fi re they can then
plan far better fi re safety advice and
response solutions to building owners
and members of the public,” Ian
says.
This information is then transposed
into station goals and targets as part
of their station or watch business
plan and loaded into station and
watch targets as part of SMS.
SMS is far more than a computer
recording system. It is a total concept
and principle of having fi refi ghters
being more involved in the planning,
and day to day management of their
activities against the key objectives as
outlined in the Fire Service strategic
plan, Ian says
Fire stations must understand how
those strategic objectives relate to the
specifi c goals set in their business plan
and just how they can plan their work
to ensure that the work they carry out
actually helps their district and the
organisation to achieve these goals,
he says.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
Photo courtesy Timaru Herald
3

New initiatives
Sockburn labels add
courtesy to call-outs
Key tags and courtesy stickers have added
dimension to the courtesies required when
fi refi ghters have to enter vacant premises.
The initiatives were developed by
brown watch, Sockburn, in
Christchurch who would like to share
the concepts with other brigades.
Senior station offi cer Dave Mitton
says the brigade now carries key tags
along with combination padlocks for
those occasions when crews have to
force entry, but must ensure things
are secure when they leave.
The key tag and the combination lock
means crews can not only secure the
premises – such as a farmer’s gate or
a shed - before they leave but can also
leave behind the message that the
premises was entered by the Fire
Service as a result of a call-out. The
tag includes a space for the name of
the station, the telephone number,
who the offi cer was and date and time
of entry.
“Often when they phone we are able
to simply give the combination out to
the caller and pick up the padlock
4 Issue No. 5
and tag later that day. Within the
week of the tag going on the Sockburn
appliance it was used twice.”
The new stickers also developed by
Sockburn are used when the brigade
attends calls such as after hours PFAs,
when the building is secure and noone
is around.
“We thought it was only courtesy
that the occupier should be informed
we have entered their building or
attended an incident as the result of a
call-out, and leave a contact name.”
“There are security issues involved
here where we felt that if we enter
into someone’s premises after hours
they should be informed we were
there. Should they have any queries
the owner or tenant is able to contact
the officer who attended, as the
information is written onto the label
in marker pen and stuck to the corner
of a desk, or external door for them
Key tag and sticker developed by brown watch,
Sockburn. Senior station offi cer Dave Mitton is
happy to talk to any brigades who would like to
follow up these initiatives for themselves.
Senior fi refi ghter Ross Trezise,
brown watch, Sockburn, helped the
crew develop the key tag and sticker
initiatives.
to see when they come to work the
next day.”
Dave says it helps raised the profi le of
the service because often the public
does not know firefighters have
entered the building looking for a
fi re.
He says this fi ts in with working with
communities to protect what they
value.
The stickers are also useful when
fi refi ghters attend rural fi res and enter
farm land, or fi res in road-side rubbish
skips.
Contact senior
station offi cer
Dave Mitton if you
are interested in
following up this
initiative.

On-line ordering for national
promotional resources
A new on-line order system is being developed for
fi refi ghters to order their own national promotions
material to support fi re safety initiatives in their
communities.
On-line ordering has been created to
support the organisation’s direction
of fi refi ghters managing risk in their
communities through business plans,
which is why this feature will only be
available via the station management
system (SMS).
Access into the system has been
offered to career fi refi ghting personnel
from chief fi re offi cer to station offi cer
rank, key regional promotions and
fire safety personnel, volunteer
support offi cers and volunteer chief
fi re offi cers.
A range of national resources will be
available to order including all
national promotions brochures,
pamphlets and booklets, Be FireWise
programme resources including Maui
Tine Ahi resources and national
promotional giveaway items such as
rulers, stickers and tattoos. These
resources are paid for out of the
national promotions budget.
The system features an image and
description of each resource, printable
and downloadable pdf fi les, a back
order facility, a ‘what’s new’ area to
post information about new items
and a shopping basket facility to
order resources.
Orders will be directed to a warehouse
in Wellington where items will be
picked, packed and sent directly to
fi re stations.
The warehouse aims to provide for a
24-hour turn around within the
North Island and a 72-hour turn
around within the South Island.
The media, promotions and
communications unit will pay for
storage, freight and logistics costs.
A Q&A fact sheet featuring more
information about the system is
available on ‘what’s new’ in FireNet.
Updates and new information about
the on-line order system and new
resources will be published on FireNet
and on the on-line order website.
The system will be available in
January 2005.
New initiatives
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
5

New initiatives
New complaints
feedback policy
developed
A new policy to assist personnel when dealing with feedback
or a complaint from a member of the public, has recently
been approved by the Fire Service Commission.
The complaints / feedback policy
(POLCM6.1) provides best practice
guidelines for employees to follow and
establishes a formal process for members
of the public who wish to pass on a
compliment or make a complaint.
Complaints can be made directly to
the person being complained about
and then, if the complainant is not
satisfi ed, to their chief fi re offi cer /
business unit manager.
Any person wishing to pass on a
compliment or make a complaint can
do so via the public website by
emailing feedback.fi re.org.nz or by
returning a freepost feedback form.
A discussion document outlining
three options for the future shape of
fire and rescue services has been
released by Internal Affairs Minister
George Hawkins.
The document outlines three options:
a national model, a modifi ed status
quo model and a national-regional
model. Mr Hawkins is keen to hear
the views of career and volunteer
fi refi ghters.
“New laws are needed to recognise
the new tasks being taken on by the
Fire Service, especially in rescue
work.’’
“There are also inconsistencies
between urban and rural fi re systems.
We need to resolve these.’’
Fire services depended heavily on
volunteers and their efforts needed to
be encouraged and maintained, Mr
Hawkins said.
All career stations and areas with
public access will be sent posters
for staff notice boards and other
public / reception areas.
Firefi ghters’ views
sought on Fire Service future
6 Issue No. 5
All feedback will be logged in the
station management system (SMS)
and the information recorded will be
used to improve our processes where
appropriate.
Feedback forms for the public and
posters explaining the complaints/
feedback policy will be sent to career
fi re stations and business units late
December to January.
The policy is available on FireNet in
the manual, policy, form information
section under communications, media
and promotions national policy
documents.
User-friendly freepost feedback / complaints
forms have been developed for personnel to
give to members of the public that may ask
for them.
“I’m particularly keen to hear the
views of fi refi ghters, both voluntary
and paid, to help ensure we get the
best possible system for the
future.’’
Submissions, to be made to the
Internal Affairs Department, close on
March 31. The discussion document
can be viewed on-line at:
FireLegislationReview@dia.govt.nz
or www.dia.govt.nz

National training
facility project blessed
Nine pieces of greenstone,
representing the eight fi re regions
and national headquarters, were laid
at the entrance to what will be the
new national training facility in a
formal ceremony in November.
Chief Executive/National Commander
Mike Hall and local kaumätua
performed the ceremony in Rotorua
before a gathering that included Fire
Service personnel who have been
involved in the project; Rotorua
deputy mayor Trevor Maxwell and
Fire Service national adviser, Mäori,
Piki Thomas.
Piki says the stones represented the
‘mauri’ or life-force/essence of the
various regions and headquarters;
having a piece of each region and
headquarters present on the site at all
times that joins with the life force
already in the whenua.
“The position of the stones is of less
signifi cance but have been placed to
welcome ‘their’ respective
representatives from around the
country as they enter the site.”
Recruit programme manager Des
Irving says the project has gone out
for tender. It is on a one hectare site
and the BATB, tower and live fi re
building should be operational by
late next year.
Des says the facility is the Fire Service’s
fi rst purpose-built national recruit
training centre for fi refi ghting ranks.
Some of its special facilities will
include compartmental fi re training,
with three containers, in a “H”
confi guration set up to offer offensive
and defensive compartmental fire
training. “This is a real step forward,
particularly because of all the new
apartment complexes in
metropolitan
areas.”
Guests at the blessing ceremony
pose for the camera. The facility is
on a one hectare site.
Greg Pearce (left) receives his trophy
from Transport Minister Harry
Duynhoven. Photo: Lance Lawson
New Cover initiatives story
Chief Executive/National Commander Mike Hall
prepares to lay the nine pieces of greenstone at
the entrance of the national training facility in
Rotorua, help by local kaumātua.
Highway hero’s fi re skills save a life - twice
Tokoroa volunteer fi refi ghter of 11
years Greg Pearce has been honoured
for twice saving a man’s life.
Greg, a logging truck driver, is
Beaurepaires Highway Hero for
2004. He was presented with the
award and a $5,000 cheque by
Transport Minister Harry Duynhoven
at Parliament.
Greg was driving his truck near
Mangakino in December last year
when he came across an accident that
had just happened. A car had slammed
into a bank and a passenger in the rear
seat, who was not wearing a seat belt,
suffered serious head injuries. Thanks
to his training as a fi refi ghter, Greg
knew what to do. He checked for a
pulse, and fi nding none applied mouth
to mouth resuscitation. The man
began to breathe so Greg left him to
call an ambulance from his truck.
When he returned the man’s pulse
had disappeared so Greg again applied
mouth to mouth. Realising the
seriousness of the man’s injuries Greg
called for a rescue helicopter to airlift
the man to hospital. The request was
only agreed to after Greg convinced
the dispatcher that he was an
experienced fi refi ghter and had seen a
lot of head trauma and injuries.
Next Greg drove his self loading truck
into a nearby patch of scrub and
bushes and used the crane to clear a
landing spot for the helicopter. By
that time the ambulance had arrived
and Greg used its GPS system to
direct the helicopter to the site. The
man subsequently recovered.
The Beaurepaires Highway Heroes
programme recognises humanitarian,
brave or heroic deeds by professional
truck, coach or bus drivers during the
course of their work for the benefi t of
other road users.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
7

Appointment
Special ops “Ninja”
Jim Stuart-Black has joined the Fire Service’s OSAT team as national
manager of special operations; otherwise called “the Ninja job”.
He is happy to go along with the
humour, suggesting he pose for his
photograph wearing black with a
knife between his teeth.
Special ops is a new job in the Fire
Service; it does have a ring of the
“covert” about it, but what it really
means is all the things that are not
strictly fi re related and that will carry
more emphasis in the organisation as
it moves to a broader “rescue” role.
Urban search and rescue (USAR),
hazardous substances, confi ned space
rescue and chemical, biological and
radiological (CBR) incidents are the
kinds of operational activities for
which Jim is now responsible.
Jim joins us from the Ministry of Civil
Defence and Emergency Management.
He hails from the UK and has an
extensive background in the fi eld of
emergency management, including
USAR, counter-terrorism work and
incident management. He has
experience working in hot-spots
throughout the world with nongovernmental
organisations (NGOs),
emergency management in the UK,
... strengthening inter-agency
partnerships between the
Fire Service and the other
organisations with which it works
across special operations.
““
8 Issue No. 5
holds a degree in disaster management
and spent 47 weeks at the Fire Service
College in the UK doing an incident
command course.
He says one of his priorities will be to
establish and promote best practice
and national consistency in response
and resources across special ops roles
in the Fire Service.
Jim wants specifi c changes to urban
search and rescue seeing it as more
than the specialist stand-alone
operation it is now, but rather playing
a more integral, day-to-day role
within Fire Service operations as
a medium rescue capability. “I
also want to ensure New
Zealand continues to be seen
as a leading country globally
in urban search and rescue.”
He says strengthening
inter-agency partnerships
between the Fire Service and
the other organisations with
which it works across
special operations will also
be a high priority for him.
This will not be an office-bound
“Ninja”; Jim wants to see as much
action around the country as possible
as he gets “a feel for the challenges
and issues”. “If this means I ride on
the rescue tender at 3am...”
Meanwhile checks reveal Jim Stuart-
Black has not been issued with a
balaclava, nor does he really mind
being photographed in public. Soon
to be married to his partner Sarah,
Jim will usually be found outdoors in
the mountains or on the water when
not at work.
Photo Lance Lawson

Diffi cult incident in
Wellington crane
Incidents
A diffi cult rescue faced Wellington crews when a man suffered a heart
attack in the cab of a crane on a building site in the city.
Thorndon, Newtown and City crews,
with police and ambulance, responded
to the call.
Thorndon gained access to the crane’s
cab and attempted to resuscitate the
maintenance worker with the automatic
external defi brillator (AED).
Station offi cer Brendan Nally says the
The crane
was swaying
in the wind.
AED would not work because it registered
movement. “The crane was swaying in
the wind.” The man died of a heart
attack.
“ “
Brendan says this was an unfortunate
incident because had the man been on
the ground the AED would have been
able to produce a shock and things
might have been much different.
Newtown’s specialist line-rescue
equipment and skills were used to
retrieve the man’s body from the crane
cab and lower him to the ground.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
Photo courtesy FOTOPRESS/Anthony Phelps
9

Photos courtesy FOTOPRESS and station offi cer Graeme Quensell
Incidents
Fire blackens
Christmas plans
A luxury launch just refurbished for a
Christmas trip suffered fi re damage thanks
to a pinched power cord. Senior fi refi ghters Megan Tait and
Waitemata 671, Henderson 657 and
Parnell from the Marine Rescue
Centre responded to the boat fi re at
West Park Marina, Clear Water Cove,
in Auckland. Waitemata station
offi cer Graeme Quensell says the 55
foot Elysium, a Pelin launch, was
about 250 metres down the pier, with
black smoke pouring from it when
fi refi ghters arrived. Vessels on either
side had been moved. A man was
working on the vessel unaware of the
fi re until someone warned him.
A low pressure delivery was run out
along the pier and was extended by a
forestry pack to reach the vessel.
“A fi xed hose reel was being used by
locals when I arrived and we took
over using BA and our thermal
imaging camera to search a very hot
and heavily smoke logged cabin
area.”
10 Issue No. 5
Firefi ghters contained damage to the
ensuite area downstairs, and 85
percent of the vessel was saved.
Fire safety said the fi re started because
a dehumidifier’s electric cord was
pinched in a closed cupboard door.
Graeme says he took the opportunity
to discuss fi re safety with the media
and boat owners, with emphasis on
smoke alarms in vessels where people
sleep. He planned a pamphlet drop
the following week.
Waitemata, sitting between rural and
urban areas, has a diverse range of
incidents. Calls can include murder
on the North Western Motorway,
fi res on luxury boats and rescuing
horses trapped in creeks.
“It is an interesting station to be at.”
Brendon Wood, with station offi cer
Graeme Quensell on board the Elysium.

Windy Wanganui
Wanganui winds in September caused minor
damage around the city, including loose iron.
Firefi ghter Gary Anderson was pictured lowering
loose debris from one building to the ground.
Photo courtesy Wanganui Chronicle
Joint exercise
tests ship fi re skills
Refl ections
of of a a storm storm
Incidents
An Auckland City crew secure a broken window
at the Stamford Plaza after strong winds in
Auckland, mid November.
Photo courtesy FOTOPRESS/NZ Herald
Dunedin brown watch spent a Sunday training to deal with fi res in tight
spaces as part of a joint exercise with the New Zealand Navy.
The exercise involved a big fi re on
board the HMNZS Moa and gave
naval volunteer reserve personnel an
appreciation of a large engine room
fire, while firefighters had the
opportunity to test their skills against
a fi re in tight spaces.
Dunedin chief fi re offi cer Dave Seque
says the approach came from the
navy and the fi refi ghters treated it like
a watch exercise. Fifteen navy
reservists and two fire crews
responded to the mock fi re on board
the inshore patrol craft, testing
emergency response and rescue and
treatment routines.
A patient is treated on board the
HMNZS Moa during a joint Fire
Service and Navy exercise.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
Photo courtesy Otago Daily Times
11

Incidents
Hydrogen
peroxide spill
Photo Photo courtesy courtesy Ashburton Ashburton Guardian Guardian
Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade tackled a chemical
spill at a transport company’s premises. A container of
hydrogen peroxide was knocked over.
Driver cut
out of car
12 Issue No. 5
Birds under
the bonnet
Fire safety messages can
address many issues – from
installing smoke alarms to
birds under the bonnet.
Ashburton fi re safety offi cer
Kevin Donaldson was quick
to get this important message
out following two fi res in
farm machinery caused by
birds and rodent nests.
He urged farmers ro check
under bonnets, around
electrical circuits and
exhaust pipes of farm
machinery. In one
incident a farmer was
driving his tractor along
a road when the engine
compartment caught fire. The
other fi re broke out under a car
bonnet after a nest was built in it
overnight.
Photo courtesy Ashburton Guardian
Darren Hogg and Mark Dickson
uncover a rat’s smouldering nest.
A man was hurt after his car was involved in a two-car
crash in Masterton. The accident happened on a narrow
rural road between the car and a four-wheel-drive towing
a mobile sheep shearing unit.
Photo courtesy Wairarapa Times Age

Forced landing
A hot-air balloon made a forced landing in
McCleod Park, Te Atutu, Auckland, late October.
Timber yard
incident
Tauranga crews turned out to a chemical spill at a
timber yard in November.
The 7,000 litres of fl ammable solvent, used for
treating timber, was mainly a fi re hazard. The spill
covered 80 sq m but did not reach the plant.
Left to right Adam Martin, Roy
Lemon and Paul Mahon.
Roy Lemon faces the
camera with a smile.
Incidents
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
Photo courtesy FOTOPRESS/Michael Bradley Photos courtesy courtesy Bay of Plenty Times
13

Training
Canterbury gears
up for summer heat
Firefi ghters prepared for a hot, dry, windy summer at a Canterbury rural
fi re exercise recently.
The exercise involved about 400 fi refi ghters from throughout New Zealand
and took place in Christchurch, Dunsandel and Rakaia in October.
The exercise scenario was based on actual conditions from last summer
– low rainfall and days on end of wind combining to make the risk of
fi re extreme.
14 Issue No. 5
Rural fi re offi cer Grant Lousich of City Care briefs an
Environment Canterbury team during the exercise.
The organising committee also commissioned a video
fi rm to collect material which will be used to assist
with future training.
Alongside fi eld team training, the exercise involved two
paper-based exercises, with incident management teams out
on the plains, working from small town halls to co-ordinate
and organise the battle against fast-moving “blazes”,
allocating resources and communicating with the emergency
operations centre in Christchurch.

Principal rural fire officer Keith
Marshall was one of the response coordinators
and says one of the main
aims was to simulate and rehearse cooperation
between the different
agencies involved in a rural fi re.
“The idea was to take conditions like
we had last summer, create scenarios
where a number of fi res had started,
and then look at how we’d manage
those events.”
The planning and management
structure employed the co-ordinated
incident management system (CIMS)
now widely used for large scale civil
defence or other public emergencies.
An emergency operations centre
(EOC) was set up at Environment
Canterbury’s purpose-built emergency
management centre in Christchurch,
allocating scarce resources between
the different fi res and carrying out the
necessary planning needed to deal
with a potential third or fourth fi re.
Incident management teams were set
up in halls closer to the exercise fi res
to manage the battle and liaise with
the EOC. Their paper-based exercises
produced challenges from making the
best use of limited water supplies and
The exercise was
also tied into
regional publicity
fi refi ghting equipment to wind shifts
and “evacuations” of small towns.
Field teams were put through training
exercises.
The two-day programme was
organised by the Canterbury-West
Coast Regional Rural Fire Committee.
Along with staff from the various
district and regional councils,
participants included the Department
of Conservation, rural fi re districts,
the Fire Service, Police, Defence
Training
forces, forest companies, St John
Ambulance and the Salvation Army.
People from as far away as Southland
and Northland took part.
“For the past three years the region’s
rural fire authorities have
been continually improving their
co-ordination,” Mr Marshall says.
“This exercise was another step
towards being effective during times
of extreme hazard and when we have
large scale multiple emergencies.
“It was a real success. We found some
things which we can work on, but
many of the fi eld teams are now more
comfortable about their roles in a real
fi re and we are confi dent we have a
much larger pool of people trained to
take part in incident management
than before.”
The exercise was also tied into
regional publicity about summer’s
imminent arrival and land owners’
need to prepare for scrub fi res.
Many of the fi eld teams taking part learned more about
safe operating around aircraft, including correct methods
to fi ll monsoon buckets.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
15

Training
Prepared for the
fi re season
More than 30 fi refi ghters from throughout the Manawatu-
Wanganui region gathered recently to train for the current
fi re season.
16 Issue No. 5
Pilot Regan Graham gives a safety briefi ng
to the crews
Incident controller, Simon Osborne an
manager, Kevin Fletcher approach the

d ops
BK 117
The training camp in November was
held at Rangi Woods near Pohangina,
north of Palmerston North, and was
an initiative of the regional rural fi re
committee.
Personnel from the Wanganui,
Rangitikei and Manawatu District
Councils, New Zealand Fire Service
(Wanganui), WPI Forestry and Fire
and Rescue NZ attended.
“The primary objective of the camp
was to assist participants in achieving
operational readiness for the current
fi re season,” said rural fi re offi cer
Simon Osborne.
“Volunteers were also helped in their
efforts to acquire the position
competency requirements of crew
leader and rural fi refi ghter.
“The crews arrived on the Friday
evening where, after a hearty meal,
they got down to the serious business
of study.
“However, before lights out after
midnight, everyone had also
participated in a night exercise getting
water from the Pohangina River up
to a portable dam by the camp
buildings.”
A pager going off prematurely at
5am ensured everyone had an early
start on Saturday.
Firefi ghters were divided into four
crews with crew leaders, sector
leaders and an operations manager
being designated. Simon was incident
controller.
“Two crews were placed on right
and left fl anks of simulated fi res,
where they demonstrated their skills
in dry fi refi ghting, relay pumping
and suppressing fi re with water and
additives.”
Helicopter fi rm HELiPRO providing
a Kawasaki BK 117 A3 so attendees
could practice their embarking and
disembarking techniques.
The New Zealand Fire Service
command unit from the Wanganui
district played a major role.
“All in all, the camp was a tremendous
success which everyone enjoyed.
“I am confi dent it will not be long
before we hold another.”
Fire safety
Civic
award in
Palmerston
North
Palmerston North fi refi ghters won a
civic award from the local city council
for clocking up almost 10,000 hours
of fi re safety work in a year.
Chief fi re offi cer Rodger Calder says all
personnel at the two city stations work
hard educating people about the
dangers of fi re and how to avoid them.
As a result the station did 9088 hours
fi re prevention work during the 12
months to June 30.
Photo courtesy Manawatu Standard.
Palmerston North chief fi re offi cer Rodger Calder
and fi refi ghters won a civic award for fi re
prevention work.
Wellington Gold Star
Tournament
Twelve teams took part in the
Wellington Gold Star Tournament at
Titahi Bay. Bad weather forced an
adjournment to indoor bowls. The
day was a success thanks to Titahi
Bay fire, games convenor Bob
Marshall and the enthusiastic teams.
Next years’ tournament is set for
Paekakariki, March 12. Inquiries to
Mark Chaple 04-292-8693.
Results:
Titahi Bay 1; Featherston 2; Porirua 3.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
17

Fire safety
What goes on behind
closed doors?
A closed door and selfl ess courage helped save a life in Nelson recently.
18 Issue No. 5
Story by station offi cer Brian O’Donnell
Photos by fi re safety offi cer Paul Wigzell

The fi rst call was received at 12.15 am.
The fi rst pump and the pump rescue
tender arrived fi ve minutes later. The
entire west side of the house,
comprising an open plan lounge,
dining and kitchen area, was totally
involved in fi re. The fi re was already
venting through the front and the
windows down the west side of the
house.
An attack was made using one high
pressure delivery followed by a second,
once the fi rst one had been established.
A quick knock down was achieved
with the fire being brought under
control within the fi rst fi ve minutes.
Crews checked the rest of the house
and were amazed to discover that one
bedroom had virtually escaped
untouched.
This was the bedroom from which the
occupant had been rescued by one of
the people who discovered the fi re;
thanks to the closed door, it was
almost as if this room was not part of
the house which had been on fi re. The
“The closed door was one of two factors
which contributed to the survival of the
sole occupant.
“
thin wooden skin on the bedroom side
was all that remained of the hollow
core door. The hole in the door shown
in the photograph was done
accidentally some time after the fi re
was extinguished.
The closed door was one of two factors
which contributed to the survival of
the sole occupant.
Guests at a nearby backpackers hostel
discovered the fi re and alerted the
night manager, who dialled 111.
Taking an extinguisher he ran across
to the house, approaching the only
window at the front that he could.
Inside he could see a man sitting on a
bed, so he used the extinguisher to
break the glass and clear it from
around the frame. He reached in and
physically dragged the person out
through the window.
Had the door to the bedroom not been
closed, the night manager would not
Fire Training safety
have been able to reach the window.
The occupant did not have the energy
to break the glass. Although the air in
the room was not contaminated by
smoke, we believe that the carbon
monoxide levels were approaching
lethal levels and the occupant was
displaying symptoms of carbon
monoxide poisoning.
He was taken to hospital by ambulance
where he was admitted to the intensive
care unit. Five days later he had still
not been discharged from hospital.
His survival could only be attributed
to the bedroom door being closed and
the courageous actions of the
backpackers night manager.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
19

Fire safety
Ignored smoke
alarms prompt
safety day out
Blue and green watches, in partnership
with Housing New Zealand, worked
together to bring an important fi re
safety message to fl ats in Petone.
Smoke alarms are often ignored by
the people in the fl ats. Firefi ghters say
they get a lot of calls to the building
and fi nd people not responding to
alarms; not dialling 111 or activating
manual call points. The brigade often
gets the call thanks to passers-by
taking the initiative to call from a
phone box.
Through an open day and kitchen
display, fi refi ghters showed residents
how important it is they do heed
smoke alarms, dial 111, don’t be
20 Issue No. 5
SPORTS
COUNCIL
Event
Calendar
2 0 0 5
afraid to call the fi re brigade and
evacuate to safety.
The Palmerston North kitchen display
brought home how dangerous kitchen
fi res can be; there was a colouring
competition for children and the
back-drop of fi re safety television
advertisements.
Housing NZ has placed safety poster
holders in the building and the
messages will be up-dated by the Fire
Service regularly, complemented by
two large billboards.
The green watch initiative was pulled
together by blue watch.
East Coast Fire Brigades Golf Tour/Gisborne
6th Feb – contact: jack.glassford@fi re.org.nz
Region 3v4 Golf Tour/Palmerston North
14th March – contact: warren.dunn@fi re.org.nz
National Bowls Tour/New Plymouth
26th Feburary – contact: RHHSMITH@xtra.co.nz
Clay Bird Shoot/Otautau
Jan - April – contact: carolyn.west@fi re.org.nz
Gamefi shing Tour/Russell F/B
8th - 9th April – contact: www.russellfi re.org.nz
Photos Lance Lawson

Keeping abreast
of fi re safety
Tauranga district chief fi re offi cer
Ron Devlin was assigned the onerous
task of judging the most outstanding
boobs in town. Whilst a job only
given to the most experienced, even
Ron found the job seriously
challenging and humbling.
But it was all in good fun and for a
good cause. Tauranga Fire Brigade
members and Bay-Waikato Fire
Region beauties participated in a fun
run fundraising event for breast
cancer – the only requirement was to
wear your best, if not biggest boobs.
The annual event held in October
attracted record numbers this year
with over 2,000 entrants – the eldest
was over 90 years old.
Heavily laden with boobs ranging in
sizes from tennis balls to water
melons, the women marched 4.5 km
into the town centre. As they entered
through the fi nish gates, they were
warmly greeted by fi refi ghters who
presented each participant with a
rose. Ron Devlin, in his official
capacity, was there to examine all the
breast entrants. It would be fair to
say even he was gob-smacked by the
size and magnitude of the task. Prizes
were given to the most creative and
imaginative breasts, but naturally
Ron selected the biggest and most
realistic as the best!
National Surf Riding Champs/New Plymouth
10th - 14th April – contact: a.j.pidwell@clear.net.nz
Wellington Provincial Golf Tour/Feilding
10th July – contact: warren.dunn@fi re.org.nz
National Snooker Tour/Otaki F/B
16th - 17th July – contact: ian.king@fi re.org.nz
Diane Bunn, Megan Dromgool, Helen Berendsen,
Carolyn Geenty demonstrate the link between
protect what you value and breast cancer.
Firefi ghter Dave Moore is in truck.
Not to let an opportunity go by, Bay-
Waikato Fire Region’s team
demonstrated the link between the
Fire Services motto, “protect what
you value” and breast cancer, by
demonstrating additional and
resourceful uses for smoke alarms.
Unfortunately they made the team
Free barbeque
Fire safety flavoured with sausages
comprised another successful promotion
in partnership with State Insurance.
A free barbeque outside the company’s
Dunedin City offi ce included fi re safety
advice offered by Scott Lindsay and Logan
Akers, of the Dunedin Fire District.
Station offi cer, fi re safety, Graeme Jeffery
says that more than 300 sausages vanished
within two hours, along with complimentary
safety tips.
National Basketball Tour/Manaia F/B
5th - 6th Sept – contact: brett.cowper@fi re.org.nz
National Trout Fishing Tour/Turangi F/B
1st - 4th Aug – contact: francarmstrong@hotmail.com
To list your sporting event on this space please send details to: warren.dunn@fi re.org.nz
Fire safety
appear flat chested
and failed to grab Ron’s
attention. However, Tauranga
fi refi ghter Judy Mahupuku did make
more of a fashion statement with her
tasteful Triple D sunfl ower creation.
Ron has put his name forward as the
leading judge for next year’s event.
National Rugby Tour/Hawke’s Bay
9th - 10th Sept – contact: bruce.botherway@fi re.org.nz
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
21

Fire safety
Reporoa School cluster group
open day. Children watch
fi refi ghters demonstrate Level
2 gear.
FireWise
gets a fresh
approach
22 Issue No. 5
Fire message delivered
to rural schools
School cluster group open days are an ideal way of fi nding out
more about the Fire Service and the FireWise programme.
Eighteen classes at Tauranga
Intermediate have completed the Fire
Service’s new Year 7 & 8 FireWise
programme for a second year
running.
Head teacher Margaret Campbell
says the programme is tailored to the
curriculum and offers many
opportunities for creative and
innovative learning.
A Tauranga Intermediate multimedia
student with Tauranga
fi refi ghter Paul Van Kol.
Children from Waikite Valley, Lake Rerewhakaaitu,
Ngakuru, Broadlands and Reporoa schools were recently
treated to such a day when they were visited by the Fire
Service and the Bay of Plenty Burns Support.
During the day, children had the chance to take part in an
‘escape’ from Bay-Waikato Fire Region’s FireWise house,
and to fi nd out more about the role of the fi refi ghter.
Rotorua fi refi ghter Jillene Managh said the action-packed
day gave the teachers and children a small taste of the
interesting and useful information they could learn in the
FireWise programme.
Schools have since planned FireWise into their curriculums
and booked fi refi ghter visits.
By using a range of mediums a
number of classes demonstrated
their creative fl air and knowledge
of home fi re safety. Multi-media
students in Room 25 used their
laptops to demonstrate the
importance of home escape
plans and smoke alarms. In
drawing their own houseplans
and importing them
onto a hyperstudio
programme, they were able
to plan and create a number
of escape routes, depending
on where the fi re started.
Their teacher Karen Mills
says the children integrated various
programmes to design “animated”
versions of their home escape plans.
Thus, when a fi re emerged in a certain
area, they could demonstrate using a
personalised image, what their
options were in terms of escaping
through their own homes. Students
in Room 33 also used FireWise
graphics and applied their computer
skills to highlight fi re risks in various
rooms of the house.
Room 19 made its own version of a
FireWise rap and got one-third of the
school going by presenting it during
Tauranga Intermediate’s Arts Week.
Bay-Waikato promotions and
education co-ordinator Megan
Dromgool says the Year 7 & 8
F i r e W i s e p r o g r a m m e i s
comprehensive and Tauranga
Intermediate has shown excellent
initiative in adapting and utilizing it
to suit the learning styles and
creativity of their students.

Fire police
Ngaruawahia Volunteer Fire Brigade, north of
Hamilton in the Waikato, has 25 members and
a separate unit of three fi re police.
This role involves looking after the
welfare of the fi refi ghters (supplying
refreshments at long or hot incidents),
traffi c control, safety and assistance
to firefighters on the fire ground,
salvage, lighting, crowd control,
transport and security of the scene.
All brigade members must have police
clearance before becoming a member
of the Fire Service, however fi re police
are required to go one step further and
be sworn in by a Justice of the Peace.
The fi rst three recorded fi re police
joined on November 4, 1977. All
have since retired after many years’ of
service.
The brigade lobbied for two years to
receive uniforms for the fi re police,
which is a separate unit from the
fi refi ghters. As a result the fi re police
unit has been smartly turned out for
two months. It has had excellent
comments from the public and
other brigade members,
because it is
now easily identifi able and visible at
incidents.
Ngaruawahia was one of the fi rst
brigades in the Bay-Waikato Fire
Region to receive this new gear.
The fi re police are: station offi cer
Mark Collins, a security guard; fi re
police constable David Bird, traffi c
management and fi re police constable
Katy Langley, a registered nurse.
Their backgrounds bring a wide range
of experience to the role and help
them work well as a team.
A grant application was accepted
recently for a generator and lights for
the brigade-owned and funded van.
The new gear will be demonstrated at
a local community day.
The Ngaruawahia brigade has
attended more than 180 calls this
year, still with December to go. This
is up 36 percent from last
year.
profile
NGARUAWAHIA
Left to right: fi re police constables David Bird
and Katy Langley and station offi cer fi re police
Mark Collins show off their new uniform.
Rainmakers
The brigade recently got
behind a local student’s
move into the movie
business.
A Ngaruawahia High School
student made a low budget music
video and local people were
involved in the fi lming.
The brigade was asked to pitch in
– by making rain. The action
happened outside a local hotel on
a windy evening. Firefi ghters set up
the hoses and experimented with
angles and water pressures, because
of the strong wind, while waiting
for the sun to drop behind the hills.
The whole operation went
smoothly with a changeover of
personnel partway through.
This was an unusual request and the
brigade grabbed the opportunity
to help raise its profile in the
community.
Making rain.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
23

Fire offi cer Jameel Alanizi is proof that fi refi ghters are brothers the world
over, says Wellington senior fi refi ghter Roger Meecham.
Saudi fi refi ghter proves
the brotherhood
Jameel works at one of the airports in
Saudi Arabia’s Capital Riyadh. His is
a crew of 13 fi refi ghters, though a
typical watch – there are four watches
- at the international airport has
about 25. Airport firefighters in
Riyadh also back up and support the
urban crews in the city.
In New Zealand to improve his
English language skills, Jameel spent
as much time as he could out of the
classroom, braving what was to him
a rather cold “and windy” November
Photo Lance Lawson Snapshots
24 Issue No. 5
climate in the hope of seeing some
fi refi ghting action in Wellington.
He visited Johnsonville Fire Station
and the central communication centre
and was hoping to link up with a
volunteer brigade as well. Firefi ghters
in Riyadh are responsible for a
population of four million, with 23
million people in the whole of Saudi
Arabia. There is a lot of emphasis on
training, says Jameel, with a daily
training regime. “You have to be fi t
and strong”.
He has been a fi refi ghter for eight
years and the career attracted him
because he saw it as a good way of
helping people in times of trouble.
His opinion of the New Zealand Fire
Service? “Very good.”
Roger Meecham organised
introductions for Jameel. Roger says
Jameel’s visit at this time proves that
fi refi ghters are brothers throughout
the world.
Central communications centre shift manager Andrew Tollison
shows Jameel Alanizi how emergency calls are handled.

Hamilton plans
to top record
cancer walk
Hamilton fi refi ghters have got behind
the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Pukete station offi cer Errol Newlands says this year
fi refi ghters set a record by walking 244.5km in 24 hours
wearing full turn-out gear.
Next year for something a bit different they were planning
a walk from Wellington to Hamilton, and will start the
event in Wellington.
The Hamilton event raised $189,000 for people affected
by cancer. Fire Service personnel nationally, including
brigades and national headquarters, have raised many
thousands of dollars for the cause since the first
New Zealand relay kicked off in Wellington in 2003.
Pukete station offi cer Errol Newlands, Chartwell’s Darren
Bowler and senior fi refi ghter Terry Pennell carry Relay for
Life star Mel Saltiel. Mel walked 107km in 24 hours at the
Cancer Society’s inaugural Relay for Life at Porritt Stadium,
Hamilton. She was the only person to do the relay non-stop.
Auckland tennis and squash
The annual Auckland Regional Tennis
and Squash Tournament was again
hosted by the Waitakere Fire District
at the Titirangi Tennis and Squash
Club in November.
Excellent competition and perfect
weather ensured a great day.
The squash for the second year
running was taken out by Neil Petri
(Balmoral red watch) with Glen
Young (Avondale brown watch) the
runner up.
The tennis was won by James Young
(Ponsonby blue watch) only losing
two games throughout the day to
Neil Petri, who fi nished runner up.
Local electrical firm Excel Corp
and the Fire Service Sports Council
provided sponsorship.
Tennis
Championship Winner James Young
R/Up Neil Petri
Social Grade Winner Bruce Dodd
R/Up Tyrel Katu
Squash
Championship Winner Neil Petri
R/Up Glen Young
Social Grade Winner Bruce Dodd
R/Up Phil Smith
Plate Winner Rodney James
R/Up Trot Isiai
Neil Petri after receiving the squash trophy.
Snapshots
Winner James Young in action.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
Photo courtesy Waikato Times
25

Snapshots
Fire crews
meet the
World’s
Fastest Indian
Invercargill fi refi ghters will feature in the movie The
World’s Fastest Indian, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins.
They play two roles, on and off camera.
The movie, being fi lmed in Invercargill, is about local
motorcycle legend Burt Munro.
There is a fi re in one scene and fi refi ghters dressed in
appropriate period costume, with an appropriate
appliance, are fi lmed tackling the blaze.
They are backed up off-camera by a crew that has to do
the real thing and actually put the fi re out.
Play acting: Station offi cer John Gilder, senior
fi refi ghters Tony Turner, Greg Koppert, Aaron
Ramsay and fi refi ghter Daniel Middlemiss.
New orientation programme
Personnel from throughout the country
gathered in Wellington at the end of
November as part of a new national
orientation programme.
Manager HR services Gail Aitkenhead
says the new programme is a response
to results from the recent all-personnel
survey. Non-uniformed personnel said
their current induction process was
inadequate.
“This new orientation programme is
for staff joining who are not covered by
the Rotorua recruits’ course. It is
designed to give new staff a good
understanding of the organisation on a
national level.”
The orientation
programme is in two
parts:
• Orientation pack
All new staff are given
an orientation pack on
commencement of
employment. This pack
26 Issue No. 5
includes a national employee handbook
with information about the organisation
and employee information including
specifi c regional information.
• Orientation workshop
New employees then attend a two-day
orientation programme at national
headquarters, Wellington. This
workshop will be run three to four
times a year with the next one in March
2005.
The workshop includes presentations
from senior managers from all business
units at national headquarters, such as
operational training
The real thing: Qualifi ed fi refi ghter
Martin Quaife, senior fi refi ghter Ian
“Red” Eunson, Sir Anthony Hopkins
and station offi cer Graeme Gilroy.
and support, and a visit to a fi re station
and the central communication centre.
“The benefit is two ways – new
personnel learn quickly about the Fire
Service as a diverse organisation which
is about more than fi ghting fi res; and
from that the organisation benefits
from having personnel who have this
wider understanding of our role.”
From now on all personnel new to the
organisation will
take part in the
orientation
programme.
The inaugural Fire Service orientation
workshop brought people from throughout
the country to Wellington for two days.
Photos Barry Harcourt

The spirit of Christmas
in Ponsonby
Matthew Salt (left) and
Peter Cranwell.
Photos Dean Treml
Christmas gets a kick start in Franklin Road, Ponsonby
as residents create the biggest free show in town.
Thousands of people travel far and
wide to glimpse the light show
spectacular created by locals who
turn their own homes into amazing
tributes to the season.
Ponsonby Fire Station is right in the
thick of the celebrations, delivering
Santa onto the street to hand out
sweets to the children, as well as
ensuring that the fi re station itself is
decked with lights and shines as
spectacularly as many of the houses
in the area.
Ponsonby crews get involved in the
community and ensure the Fire
Service profi le is kept high during the
festivities. They attend meetings with
local business as the time to switch on
the lights approaches and use the
opportunity to talk fi re safety.
The Franklin Road lights and
Ponsonby fi refi ghters are to feature in
a television documentary about how
New Zealanders celebrate Christmas.
Filming will include Santa’s arrival on
the fire appliance and fire crews
working Christmas Day.
The documentary will screen next
December.
Station offi cer Dave Beatson, Auckland mayor Dick
Hubbard and senior fi refi ghters Scott Goldingham (rear)
and Glen Roberts next to the City 205 aerialscope.
Cover story
Senior fi refi ghter Scott
Goldingham and friends, on 205.
Senior station offi cer Jeff
McCulloch in front of 207.
The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine December 2004/January 2005
27

The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine
www.fi re.org.nz