Download PDF: Fire+Rescue - Issue 66 - New Zealand Fire Service

the new Zealand fire service
pike river
mine disaster
Plus
rugby world cup prep
science meets firefighting
february 2011 / issue 66

the new Zealand fire service
Fire+Rescue is the flagship
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Fire Service.
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Level 9, 80 The Terrace, Wellington.
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ISSN: 1176-6670
front cover
Gases burn at the Pike River mine
shaft. Photo: NZPA
2 / Fire+Rescue / February 2011
new look fire+rescue
Yes there is something different about Fire+Rescue. We’ve given it a make-over
to freshen its look and provide more variety in the design. You might notice that
it now looks a bit like the NZ Rugby and Fishing magazines – we shamelessly stole some
of their design features and hope you like the result.
We still rely heavily on Fire Service personnel from around the country to alert us to the
news and interesting initiatives underway in their neck of the woods, so please contact
us at fire.rescue@fire.org.nz if you have a story to tell, or if you want to provide some
feedback on the new look. You can also call the editor Karlum Lattimore on 04 496 3702.
it’s not just an urban myth
Firefighters do rescue cats
from trees.
Sockburn Senior Firefighter Garry Dillard
is clearly a sucker for a sob story.
When three young women told the
tale of how their cat had been stuck
20 metres up a tree for 15 hours he
came to the rescue.
social chit chat
Facebook is an informal, real-time,
social phenomenon that the Fire
Service is using to become more personally
involved in discussions around fire safety
and our emergency response.
So far we have over 6,200 members,
including 1,400 from other countries.
So, when large incidents, such as the
Pike River Coal Mine disaster happen,
we are able to share in the discussion and
make a few comments about our response.
The Facebook community wants to see
what we are saying. In the days after the
explosion in the mine, the number of
Garry and his crew tried squirting water
from a hose reel up on to the cat but
that only encouraged it to climb higher.
So Garry kicked off his boots and
according to eyewitnesses ‘scaled the
tree like a monkey boy’ to grab the cat.
As you can see, his action was much
appreciated by the women.
people clicking through each week to
our page or reading the comments rose
dramatically – up from 135 to 2,749.
There were similar large increases in
interest after the Canterbury earthquake.
We also provide links from our Facebook
page to our new YouTube channel where
we’ve posted informative clips from K99
and some of our television advertisements.
So tell your Facebook friends about our
page – we plan to keep up the interaction
and build on the possibilities for discussion
that it offers.

Consulting the crystal ball
As I approach the end of my time with our Service, I’ve taken the opportunity to
discuss with the Commission, the Minister and others, the changes, challenges
and opportunities our Fire Service might explore over the next few years.
Ithink we are all well aware that
firefighting has become just one part
of what we do. Medical calls, road
crashes and civil defence emergencies
form a significant part of our workload.
We are also a national resource for major
incidents. Just look back at the last few
months of 2010 when we deployed people
and equipment from around the country
first for the Canterbury earthquake and
then the Pike River mine disaster.
This year, one of the larger demands on
us will come from the Rugby World Cup –
providing fire risk management advice,
response preparation and incident
command facilities.
Change is needed
We will continue to have a strong focus
on preventing fires by providing fire
safety advice and public education
through a wide variety of initiatives
within our communities.
But what we do today is a long way from
what we did when the New Zealand Fire
Service was set up over 35 years ago.
The Fire Service Act of 1975 and its
regulations haven’t fundamentally
changed since then and neither has the
way we are funded. We continue to work
with government to refine our funding
mechanisms to ensure that those who
legally (and morally) need to contribute
to our Service are made to do so. We will
also continue our discussions about the
potential to change our Act to give a clear
mandate for what we already do, and the
appropriate legal support to do so.
going green
The world is also going ‘green’. There is
an increasing demand for organisations
to find ways to minimise their impact on
the environment and the Fire Service is
no exception.
As I gaze into my crystal ball, I see many
changes ahead for this organisation.
We will need to reflect the concern for
the environment, by using smaller, lighter,
possibly hybrid fuel or electric appliances
and increasingly using compressed air
foam (CAF) to both suppress the products
of combustion and reduce the use of
water and run-off pollution.
We will also need to start thinking about
how to better respond to the needs of
our local communities by taking a more
risk-based focus via application of our
National Resource Allocation Model
(NRAM) and make sure brigades are
primarily resourced to reflect the actual
risk they cover, both in their equipment
and their training.
new ways of responding
There are lots of things we do well, but
there are others we no longer need to do
in the same old way. For instance, alarm
systems in new buildings are becoming
increasingly sophisticated and include
video and data recordings that can be sent
to emergency services. This will shape the
way we respond to automatic alarms.
We already know that almost all PFAs
(Private Fire Alarms) are false alarms.
Future PFA thinking will inevitably move
us to a position of ‘it’s a false alarm until
proven otherwise’ rather than our current
response. Whilst I don’t personally agree
with the nil response to PFAs approach
taken by some English brigades, moving
to a smaller investigative response to
most PFAs is certainly on the cards. I can’t
see us responding with motor cycles in
the near future as we don’t have the traffic
issues they have in other parts of the
world, but there are any number of small
fire and investigation response options
emerging. Not all calls need a full crew or
are response-time critical, nor do we need
unnecessarily large trucks to do the job.
Lead the Change
The smart organisation recognises
the challenges ahead, and seizes
the initiative and makes the decisive,
informed, changes necessary to meet
those challenges.
The question facing us is do we have
the vision and strength to recognise,
and turn to our advantage, the challenges
and opportunities of the next few years.
It’s your future.
Mike Hall
CE/National Commander
A possibility for New Zealand?
editorial
Fire+Rescue /February 2011 / 3

inside the fire
Pike
our
River Coal Mine
role
disaster
4 / Fire+Rescue / February 2011

Christchurch SSO Mike Bowden arrived for work at 5.15pm on Friday 19 November
and within an hour was on his way to the Pike River Coal Mine near Greymouth,
where a massive explosion had taken place while 29 men were underground.
Over the next three weeks more
than 50 Fire Service personnel and
Rural Fire officials rotated in and
out of the West Coast to provide support
to the Police-led operation.
Most came from Canterbury and
were based at the mine along with the
Christchurch hazmat/command unit which
was used largely as a communications
base and handling air operations. The first
crew sent over with the hazmat/command
unit included Senior Firefighter Wayne
Hamilton, who is also an air operations
supervisor with the Canterbury Rural Fire
Authority, and Station Officer Shane Cole.
It was handy that just a month earlier some
of the Christchurch Fire Service personnel,
including Mike, Wayne and Area Manager
Dan Coward, had done night-time air
operations training with the helicopter
company contracted to do the night flying
ops for the Pike River emergency.
“The crews on the command unit all took
their turn at managing the air operations,”
said Mike. “There’s not too much difference
in talking to a pilot or a pump operator.
It’s all about keeping a handle on what’s
needed, what’s going on and logging
what’s happened.”
To support the initial Police response the
command unit also prepared an Incident
Action Plan for the first days of operation
at the mine using a modified template
that had been developed during the
response to the Canterbury earthquake.
Over the coming days two crews of four
rotated in for four-day stretches, working
12-hour shifts. Once the GAG (Gorniczy
Agregat Gasniczy) machine was operating
to stabilise the mine environment, two
personnel from the Christchurch support
pump crew provided the spray needed
to keep it cool. They also provided
protection during the transfer of avgas
while it was refuelled. Two fires were dealt
with by the teams at or near the GAG,
which generated some action, said Mike.
Fire
Christchurch City SSO Dave Stackhouse
was on hand for the fire at the portal
caused by spontaneous combustion of
the foam used to seal the mine entrance
before installing the GAG.
It was about 6.30am and Dave and SFD
Dave Riddell were the only NZFS staff
on duty. “We were slightly stretched to
say the least but got it out with the help
of a couple of Queensland mines rescue
chappies and great firefighting initiatives
from Dave Riddell,” he said.
LocaL knowLedge
West Coast Area Manager Mark Boere
says the Ikamatua, Reefton and
Greymouth brigades responded to
the first explosion. Transalpine Region
Commander Rob Saunders led the initial
Fire Service response with Mark taking
over the following day as executive
officer on-site and liaison as demands
for resources grew.
“Once the response structure was in
place, with executive officers coming
in from outside the region to provide
assistance, I turned my focus to overall
area activities and supporting the local
brigades, many of whom had personal
links with those at the mine.”
Mark is also the local Principal Rural Fire
Officer and was an important link in the
planning for the response to fire.
importance oF agency
reLationships
“Between the earthquake in September,
the air disaster at Fox Glacier and the
mine emergency it was a horrendous few
months for emergency services. However,
all these events have shown the value
of the CIMS (Coordinated Incident
Management System) structure for us
and for the different agencies involved.
It’s also shown how much we all rely on
the relationships between agencies at
a local level. Everyone draws on these
relationships when there is a national
effort underway.”
Mark has also seen the results of the
strong feeling of fraternity between
Fire Service personnel.
“When these big things happen the
support from the Fire Service community
is amazing, both operationally and in
terms of welfare. There is also genuine
concern shown by fellow firefighters from
around the country. We saw this happen
in Canterbury after the earthquake and
again here at Pike River,” he said.
“The value of the new hazmat/command
unit cannot be overstated,” he said.
“Its worth has been commented on by
everyone from local police through to
the Minister,” said Mark.
Listening in vain
Three days after the first explosion
two Christchurch USAR (Urban Search
and Rescue) technicians, SFF Garry Dillard
and SFF Tony West, were sent in with
listening devices to help find any indication
that some of the men may still be alive
below ground.
Fire+Rescue /February 2011 / 5

Left top: QFF Josh Kumberoff and SFD Tom Pierce at the GAG. Left bottom: AAM Steven Greenyer (Timaru), AAM Tim Bennion (Nelson) and SFD Chris Freeman
(Christchurch) in the hazmat/command unit. Middle: Vent shaft is capped. Right: The fire-blackened mine portal.
To test whether the equipment could pick
up sounds from the far end of the two
kilometre shaft leading into the mine,
the pair first connected the equipment
to pipes near the hazmat/command unit
which was about a kilometre from the
mine entrance. Taskforce Two leader
Paul Burns said “The equipment worked
perfectly. They could even hear water
droplets.” The listening device was then
attached to the compressed air pipes
that led into the mine and monitoring was
done from a safe point to one side of the
portal. The device was also later attached
to the bore that was driven into the mine
to test the atmosphere.
ruraL FireFighting
At the beginning of the second week
of the operation, a National Incident
Management Team from rural fire
authorities was called in to complete
a risk assessment and plan for any
vegetation fire that might take hold at
the ventilation shaft or the mine portal.
Team Leader Bryan Cartelle said “We were
very focused on how we could assist and
contribute to the bigger operation – that’s
what emergency management is all about.
As Team Leader I was at the family
meetings and it was good to be able to
talk to people and answer their questions
about our work. Understandably there
6 / Fire+Rescue / February 2011
Understandably there
was a lot of sadness but
it was important to be
there for those people.
was a lot of sadness but it was important
to be there for those people.”
Once the risk assessment was completed
the tasking was handed over to the West
Coast Rural Fire District with the Grey
District Council as zone controller. A rural
air operations manager took on overall
responsibility for any fire response and for
the air operation to put the lid on the vent.
capping the vent
As concern grew over the fire coming
from the vent, a request was made by
the operations centre at Pike River to see
if there was a way to put it out or minimise
it. It appeared the gasses were catching
fire when they combined with oxygen in
the air near the mouth of the vent. It was
thought that cooling the area around the
vent would make it safer to cap and,
combined with using the GAG machine,
this could help slow and eventually
stop the ignition.
Bryan Cartelle said the first step was to
determine how practical it would be to
install a pumping operation which would
include bringing in pumps, a portable dam
and other equipment by helicopter and
gaining foot access to the ventilation shaft
and a stream. “Once we determined it was
possible, we had a crew cut a safe access
path from the helipad and the vent shaft
down to the stream a steep 35 minutes’
walk below. Fire Service and Department
of Conservation crews then set up pumps
to bring the water up to a portable dam
allowing a fine mist to be sprayed onto
the concrete pad at the vent.
Fire Service personnel stripped the new
prototype water tanker that had just been
delivered to Christchurch and flew its
portable pumps and dam in for the job.
Christchurch staff also went out on
helicopter sweeps across the area to
monitor the heat from the vent shaft
and at the platform, using thermal
imaging equipment.
setting up structures
South Canterbury Area Manager
Paul Henderson was one of the first
Fire Service personnel to arrive. He set
up the structure for the Fire Service daily
operation. An Assistant Area Manager
was placed at the mine to attend all major

meetings, plan and oversee the role of the
command unit in carrying out what was
needed. An Area Manager was based in
Greymouth to attend and provide input
to the inter-agency meeting held each
morning. The Area Manager also attended
the afternoon planning meetings at the
mine. Senior station officers were involved
in risk management planning and logistics.
“Our role was to ensure that we worked
in collaboration with other agencies to fulfil
whatever was required of us as quickly and
effectively as possible,” said Paul.
As with the response to the Canterbury
earthquake, Paul said the new hazmat/
command unit, proved to be a vital tool in
a major emergency. “It was worth its weight
in gold and its crew were outstanding.
They handled the air operations of a lot
of helicopters while I was there that first
weekend. As a pilot, I was impressed with
their proficiency.”
nhQ roLe
Back in Wellington, National Manager
Special Operations Jim Stuart-Black
and National Director of Fire Risk
Management Paula Beever were part
of the panel of experts drawn on by the
Pike River mine operation team at Police
Headquarters. They provided input to
critical decisions being made based on
the data about the gases and other
conditions in the mine.
“They also wanted us to help them
understand some of the technical
terminology and data that were being
used,” said Paula who made two trips
to Greymouth with officials as the
operation progressed.
NHQ staff also helped with the logistics
of rotating Fire Service personnel in and
out of the region during the response.
Fire service community
mourns Loss
Milton Osborne, miner and Deputy Chief
Fire Officer of the Ngahere Brigade, was
one of the 29 men killed in the mine
explosion. He was a highly valued member
of the Ngahere Volunteer Fire Brigade for
17 years and his contribution and energy
will be sorely missed.
Two other men who died, Kane Nepier
and David Hoggart, were the sons of
volunteer firefighters. The Fire Service
extends its condolences to their families
and brigades.
Below: The GAG machine in operation.
Right: Milton Osborne and his wife Anna.
Extract from Ngahere Chief
Fire Officer Tom Daly’s
words in remembrance
of Milton Osborne.
“Milt was a man who served
his community impeccably
but didn’t seek out any
praise or special mention.
When the previous CFO,
Gary Donaldson, retired,
we all wanted Milt to
step up and take the job.
But that wasn’t Milton.
He was happy being out
of the limelight just doing
whatever he could to help
the brigade and the people
of Ngahere. Nothing was
ever a problem to him but
when the going got tough
he was the firefighter all the
members wanted watching
our backs.
Once met never forgotten.
Rest in peace mate.”
Fire+Rescue /February 2011 / 7

feature
Preparing for
kick off
The Rugby World Cup is the largest sporting event New Zealand has hosted.
It will also be one of the most operationally demanding events the Fire Service
has ever supported.
Already the government has made it
clear that it expects all agencies and
organisations to work collaboratively
and effectively to make the event a success.
As National Commander/Chief Executive
Mike Hall said at the recent Fire Risk
Management Conference, this doesn’t
mean that public safety is compromised.
“What it does mean is that we will be
flexible. We will pull out all the stops to
make sure we do everything we can to
facilitate the various demands that will be
made on us – whether that is processing
evacuation schemes, providing a presence
at rugby grounds or providing fire risk
management advice to venues, liquor
licensing authorities, pyrotechnic
specialists, local authorities and other
agencies. But none of this work will be
done at the expense of public safety.”
8 / Fire+Rescue / February 2011
high-LeveL invoLvement
The Fire Service is working with other
agencies at a national level to help
coordinate and plan for the event.
This includes the work being done to
maintain security at the venues and hotels.
National Manager Special Operations
Jim Stuart-Black is leading the Fire Service
commitment.
“It’s going to be a busy and exciting time for
the organisation. For several months now
we’ve been taking part in a series of external
meetings and exercises to plan for a variety
of situations involving transportation or civil
defence emergencies through to power
failures and criminal activity. We’re also
planning for the risks, including fire, posed
The 2008 All Blacks helped launch Tourism New Zealand’s United Kingdom promotion of the Rugby World Cup.
by floating hotels, large numbers of
camper vans on the move and temporary
accommodation that will be used by
visitors during the event,” he said.
The Fire Service’s own planning takes
in three main areas; ICT (information and
communications technology) support,
operations and fire risk management.
“We will need to be able to link in to the ICT
infrastructure being put in place at venues
as well as leverage off the new fleet of
hazmat/command units around the
country that will be used as part of our
support to the Police operation,” he said.
“Operationally, much of our work will involve
the usual planning of responses for road
closures, temporary dwellings and providing
a stand-by presence for VIP hotels, training
Photo: NZPA/Tim Hales
Steve Turek
Rugby World Cup Chief Executive
Martin Sneddon meets with Alan
Merry to talk about the coming event
and what it will mean to New Zealand.
See K99 for the full interview.

fACt
grounds and match venues. All regions will
be part of local coordination centres to help
with this response,” said Jim.
deaLing to Fire saFety
Principal Advisor Fire Risk Management
Alan Merry said he expects there will be
a lot of last minute requests relating to
temporary party venues, game grounds
and street closures.
“Most of the work will be handled at
a regional level but we have set up a
structure so that there is a nationally
consistent and coordinated approach
to the advice we give,” he said.
This will include advice on applications
for pyrotechnic displays, advice to building
owners and local authorities, evacuation
scheme advice, liquor licensing issues,
proactive management of alarm systems
in hotels where VIPs are staying and other
general built environment queries.
“Each region has a representative on
the national group who has helped form the
national guidelines. These regional reps are
the first point of contact for issues that have
arisen at a local level. They will also take
matters that need wider consideration to
the national group for discussion,” said Alan.
on the board
85,000 overseas visitors expected
2,500 media expected
2,000 VIPs expected
The Fire Service National Director of
Fire Risk Management, Paula Beever,
has been appointed to the Rugby World
Cup Authority (RWC Authority). Of the 20
members of the Authority, she is just one
of three who is not a lawyer. The Authority
is a temporary body able to fast track
applications for activities or liquor
licences linked to the Rugby World Cup.
“It’s early days so we are all still getting
a feel for what we will be doing,” she said.
The Authority will work in panels of three,
who will assess applications for activities
and may hold hearings to listen to the views
of interest groups raising concerns about
specific applications.
Most applications are likely to be dealt with
using normal consent processes at a local
level by councils and other agencies;
however, the Authority will deal with those
that are urgent for one reason or another.
Paula says she isn’t on the Authority
to represent the Fire Service, but will
be a source of expert advice on fire risk
management matters.
the british experience
Some of the issues facing New Zealand
in preparing for the Rugby World Cup are
similar to those that Britain is experiencing
as it gears up for the 2012 Olympics.
Former Auckland Region Commander and
now Assistant Commissioner Fire Safety
Regulation with the London Fire Brigade,
Steve Turek, is closely involved with the
British preparations.
He spoke about this, and some of the other
issues that English brigades are facing,
at the Fire Risk Management Conference
in Rotorua in November.
With a mix of new and temporary facilities,
some of the fire risk management issues
are quite complex both during construction
Paula Beever
and once they’re in use. Added to the mix
is all the audio-visual, computer-related
and other technical equipment, cabling
and wiring that will be put in place at the
various media centres. And then there
are all the security requirements.
“We have had two fire engineers embedded
in the planning for the past two years and
we have a Central Fire Engineering Support
Group involved in all planning applications.
They also have oversight of the fire safety
issues involved with many of the major
projects. There are also fire safety support
teams in associated boroughs that provide
liaison, advice and guidance on everyday
fire safety and protection issues,”
explained Steve.
Some of the issues being faced relate
to construction – with over 10,000 people
spread across the venues and other
worksites. “Many don’t speak good English,
they have different cultural attitudes toward
fire safety and some of the accommodation
they are in is unsuitable,” said Steve.
Like the Fire Service Rugby World Cup
planners, the London Fire Brigade is also
examining issues relating to the influx of
visitors. There are fire safety issues to be
considered for their accommodation,
entertainment, venues and transport.
“One of our basic issues is just how
to promote the UK emergency number,
which is 112 and quite different from
the emergency number in many other
countries,” he said.
These are all matters that New Zealand
will be looking at as well, said Steve.
Fire+Rescue /February 2011 / 9

fACt
feature
Participating countries playing to qualify
1987 16 1991 31 1995 52 1999 69 2003 82 2007 94
Total cumulative average television audience (million)
1987 230 1991 1,400 1995 2,380 1999 3,100
2003 3,441 2007 4,200
the nZfs rwc planning
representatives
National – Jim Stuart-Black
Northland – Graham Dakin
Auckland – Richard Twomey
Bay Waikato – Brent Mortensen
Eastern – Ken Cooper
Western – Kerry Stewart
Arapawa – Des Irving
Transalpine – Dan Coward
Southern – Roger Smith
Fire Risk Mgt – Alan Merry
ICT – Alma Hong
The national guidelines for advice
will be released shortly – look out
for the operational instructions
on Firenet.
Jim Stuart-Black
10 / Fire+Rescue / February 2011

measuring the effort –
firefighting meets technology
fACt
If you want to know just how physically demanding it is to be a rural firefighter,
Dr Richard Parker can tell you.
the Rotorua-based Scion researcher
used a mix of recording equipment
to measure the stress and fatigue
on rural firefighters at a fire. A special belt
measured their heart rate while a camera
mounted in the helmet recorded what
they saw and heard. Another monitor
strapped to the helmet measured their
carbon monoxide exposure while a GPS
unit tracked their progress on the ground.
All the recordings were taken while the
firefighters clambered up hillsides,
dragged hoses, set up dams and
scraped out fire breaks.
Richard’s ground-breaking research was
funded by the Fire Service Commission
Contestable Research Fund and will be
used to help refine the guidelines relating
to shift length and fatigue.
It’s the first time these types of stress
measurements have been taken in a reallife
situation.
technoLogy revoLution
“We started doing this sort of research
four years ago but the camera and
monitors were quite bulky and took too
long to put on and when they were
attached to the firefighter, the equipment
got in the way of the firefighting. So it
wasn’t very practical. But now, technology
has moved on and everything is small
enough to be easily fitted onto the
helmet,” he said.
Once the fire was out and the firefighters
were back home, they sent data back
to Richard who downloaded it and then
merged it so that he could simultaneously
watch the video, hear their conversations,
track their progress across a map, see
their heart rate and observe how much
carbon monoxide they were breathing in.
One firefighter also came into Richard’s
office to record a minute-by-minute
breakdown of what he was doing at
the time and why.
Future appLications
“This summer we hope to have five sets
of the recording equipment out in the
field with rural firefighters gathering
more data,” he said.
In the long term, Richard believes this
type of observation and analysis of people
engaged in dangerous and physically
demanding work could be used not just
to develop new guidelines to avoid fatigue,
but might also help find more efficient
ways of working or help with training.
National Rural Fire Officer Murray
Dudfield was particularly interested in
the data on the carbon monoxide the
firefighters were exposed to. It showed
the levels were highest when a firefighter
was working next to portable fire pumps.
“We are well trained to manage working
in and around smoke to reduce exposure
to carbon monoxide so this is a reminder
to watch for other sources,” he said.
Murray says Richard’s research on physical
stresses and fatigue will help refine the
guidelines on shift durations and validates
what has been learned in the field.
A closer look at the equipment.
Richard Parker
research
The heart monitor used in the research was designed by New Zealand
company Zephyr Technology and is the same as those provided to the
Chilean mine rescue effort a few months ago. The heart monitors were
worn by the men as they were pulled to the surface in the escape capsule.
Fire+Rescue /February 2011 / 11

out and about
rewarding
the hard yards
Hundreds of Fire Service personnel
from around the country worked long
and hard to help Canterbury recover from
the 4 September earthquake. Recently
the Commission recognised their efforts
by hosting a series of functions in
Waverley Volunteer Fire Brigade won best trade exhibit
at the local A&P show with its theme of Past and Present.
They showed off old and new firefighting equipment,
uniforms and fire safety pamphlets and photos. Here,
comedian Te Radar hands over the best trade exhibit trophy
and sash to SFP Michell Hickford and QFF Paul Avison.
Queen’s service
medal recipients
Congratulations to the three volunteer
firefighters whose many years of service
to their communities and the Fire Service were
recognised in the 2011 New Year Honours.
They were: Alexander Brian Calder (Ruakaka
Brigade), David John Edhouse, JP (Owhango
Brigade) and Bernard Seth Kingsbury,
JP (Cust Brigade).
12 / Fire+Rescue / February 2011
Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland,
Dunedin and Invercargill. Certificates
of commendation were presented to
representatives of the many brigades,
stations, USAR taskforces and other
staff who helped during the emergency.
fire station fine dining
The Auckland City Fire Station will host a fine dining experience for eight people
as part of a fundraising effort for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation.
The meal at the station was auctioned
off for $5,500 at the annual Dining for a
Difference event held for the Foundation
at the Sky City Casino in October.
Firefighters John McMartin (Remuera
Station) and Josh Nicholls (Mt Roskill)
donned BA and structural firefighting
suits to help push up the bidding.
The winner was Jo Kelly of the BNZ and she
and her party will arrive at the fire station,
on a date yet to be set, meet the on-duty
crew and be given a guided tour of the
historical building. They will then sit down to
a three course meal cooked by professional
chef and Paihia volunteer firefighter Hughie
Blues. They will be waited on by off-duty
firefighters and the wine will be matched to
the meal by Martin Kitzen of SANZ Global.
The Leukaemia and Blood Foundation will
provide the fancy tableware.
A sampling of the many crews and executive officers
from Canterbury and further afield who attended
the largest of the commendation events, held in
Christchurch recently. Those present included the
Minister of Internal Affairs Nathan Guy, Fire Service
Commission Chair Dame Margaret Bazley and
National Commander Mike Hall.
Firefighters Josh Nicholls, John McMartin and
Jo Kelly after winning the auction.

new on the block
Staff from Christchurch
took the opportunity to
mix the commendation event
with the commemoration of
the 150th anniversary of the
Christchurch Brigade.
Personnel from the
Auckland region who
received the commendation
on behalf of the many
from that region who had
supported the response
in Canterbury.
The efforts of lower
North Island personnel
were also recognised at
a function in Wellington.
Wakefield's new building replaces the concrete station that had
been built in 1963.
At the opening of the new station, Fire Service Commission Board member
Dave McFarlane said he hoped the community would see the station as more than
just a place to park the fire appliance and store equipment. He wanted them to see
it as a symbol of security and assurance in the event of disaster. He also said he
hoped the brigade members would find the new station a professional, productive
and attractive place for training, fire safety advice, administration and social activities.
wakefield st heliers
Photo: Blair Hall Photography
new ife director
National Manager Operational
Standards Brian Davey has been
elected to the international Board of Directors
for the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE).
One of those he was up against for the
position was the Commissioner of the London
Fire Brigade. The Board is responsible for the
governance of the Institution.
Brian said he was delighted to be appointed
and is looking forward to the challenges
and the chance to influence the strategic
direction of the Institution and enhance
the benefits to members worldwide.
The IFE provides opportunities through
examination or related qualifications and
experience to gain a level of membership that
is recognised in 35 countries around the world.
Left: Members of the Wakefield Brigade in the Nelson
region are making the most of their new station –
which was officially opened a few months ago.
Below: Firefighter Stephane Brindel is happy
to show off the new St Heliers Fire Station.
The station, with its single appliance bay, five
bedrooms, training area and gym, was rebuilt on
the old site. During construction the crew and
equipment were housed at the nearby Sacred
Heart College. The appliance was kept in a special
‘tent’ while the crew bunked down in the college.
Fire+Rescue /February 2011 / 13

out and about
hydrocarbon firefighting
specialists
The Marsden Point oil refinery’s
firefighters are the latest to become
officially registered as an Industrial
Fire Brigade with the New Zealand
Fire Service.
The NZ Refining Company Ltd has had
its own Department of Emergency
Services for many years, headed by
Steve Fraser as Emergency Services
and Incident Response Manager.
“We employ 12 full-time firefighters
who also respond locally to assist the
Fire Service and St John Ambulance.
One of our guys was a South African
paramedic and another was a St John
Ambulance officer.”
Everyone holds Pre Hospital
Emergency Care (PHEC) credentials.
They are also a trained USAR team so
are available to help Police with search
and rescue operations.
The refinery has another 20 volunteer
firefighters and a similar number
of Fire Police Medics. All 127 plant
operators go through a week of fire
training with a further two days’
training each year.
With such a wide range of flammable
products on site, the refinery hosts
regular training sessions with the other
fire crews in the region. “We really
appreciate the time and the support
they offer us,” he said.
Firefighters who train at the refinery use
its specialised equipment and practise
scenarios using high-volume firefighting
equipment including 125 mm hose and
a monitor that operates at 22,800 litres
14 / Fire+Rescue / February 2011
per minute (one of just two in the
country). It also has the only hot fire
training pad of its kind in the country.
“The pad is a small structure with
multiple fuel leaks built with left
over bits from the plant. It is a very
important facility where we can
appreciate the hazards of live
hydrocarbon fires and practice
firefighting techniques.”
The refinery firefighters use only
seawater which is cleaned through
a capture and treatment system and
then discharged back into the harbour.
They specialise in hydrocarbon
firefighting using Class B foam and
have 90,000 litres on site. The average
fire appliance carries 25-50 litres.
Top: Refinery firefighters practise their attack
using a high pressure monitor.
Above: Steve Fraser.
the combustible
coffee cup
We all like our coffee hot but not
burned. A woman in Christchurch
recently reported an unusual fire in her
home after reheating her takeaway coffee
in the microwave.
She’d put the cardboard cup in and set
the timer for 52 seconds. But after only
24 seconds the cup had caught fire.
She photographed the results and notified
Christchurch Fire Risk Management
Officer Mark Thomas.
Mark visited the bakery where the woman
had bought the coffee and picked up two
of same cups that had caught fire and some
examples of the other cups the bakery used.
“I then tried to recreate what had
happened with the different cups. I used
hot water from the Zip, let it cool for half
an hour and put each of the cups into
the microwave. Only one type of cup, the
same as that which had earlier caught fire,
started to smoke and ignite.”
Mark contacted Peter Wilding, the Manager
of the Fire Research and Investigation Unit,
who linked him to the Ministry of Consumer
Affairs so he could pass on his concern that
the cups may be a hazard. It is Consumer
Affairs’ role to assess whether the issue
was widespread and whether the product
should have a warning label.
Consumer Affairs talked to the cup
manufacturer, Huhtamaki Henderson Ltd,
which investigated the issue of the
combusting cup and came up with
the answer and solution.
According to their tests, the problem
centres only on those cups that are
heavily impregnated with dark ink.
They have issued an interim warning
and are changing the way the ink is
printed on the cups.
Manager of the Fire Research and
Investigation Unit Peter Wilding said this
was a great outcome which resulted from
proactive work by people who, with the
help of the new Unit, took responsibility
for engaging with other agencies and
saw the issue through.

a couple of minutes with
BRETT_WARWICK
Q:
Where are you
stationed?
a: National
Headquarters.
Q:
a:
Q:
What’s your
title?
Chief Financial
Officer.
What’s been your
progression within the
NZFS?
Started as Chief Financial
a: Officer 11 years ago and
progressed to… hold on I haven’t
progressed at all, I am still the Chief
Financial Officer.
Q:
a:
Tell us about
your family?
Married to Tessa who keeps
my horizons expanded, two
daughters Theresa (14) and Abbey
(12) both of whom keep me young
and a dog called Connie who wakes
up in the middle of the night more
frequently than a newborn baby.
Q:
What’s the one thing
that sticks in your mind
about the job?
The one thing that comes to
a: mind is that I consider myself
lucky to be in a job that I love and
in an organisation that is second
to none in New Zealand.
Q:
If you could make one
change to the Fire Service
what would it be?
It would be great if everyone
paid their share of the levy.
a:
Q:
a:
Your most embarrassing
moment on the job?
Trying to add up a couple of
numbers in a meeting without
a calculator – numbers have never
been my strong point.
Q:
What’s one thing people
would be surprised to learn
about you?
I learnt how to fly when I was
a: in my 20s but gave it up after
almost flying into the fence at the
end of the Christchurch runway.
For some reason the air traffic
controllers were not overly happy
with my performance that day.
I blamed it on the cross wind but
in retrospect I was probably a bit
too keen to land that plane.
Q:
a:
If I wasn’t in the Fire Service
I’d be?
During the university holidays
I was a postman in Mt Pleasant
and Redcliffs. Great job – 7.30–1.00
six days a week, wet weather money,
meal allowance etc. I was tanned,
fit and healthy and I seem to
remember the pay was great. I liked
the fact that when you went home
at the end of the day your job was
done and started fresh the following
morning. No lingering issues
(except when I delivered the mail
to the wrong address). No one
understands the stress and
pressure that I am under now!
favourite book:
i like robert Ludlum books – great on
a holiday.
q+a
favourite movie:
i know that it should be deep and meaningful
but i did enjoy shrek.
favourite tV show:
i was a Lost nut, never missed an episode
over the entire series, however after watching
the last episode i discovered that i still had/
have no idea what it was about or the point
to it all so i have to say dexter! why, you ask?
i know exactly how he feels sometimes.
favourite music group:
Black sabbath – it brings back memories
of university and studying for exams.
favourite sport:
anything as long as it is not a team sport.
the solitude that comes with snow skiing
suits me just fine.
favourite holiday destination:
the cruise i did with the family around the
fijian islands for my 50th – no phone, no tV,
no disney channel, no nickelodeon, no news,
no e-mails... just copious amounts of food
and alcohol.
Fire+Rescue /February 2011 / 15

Wellington aerials
Wellington now has two new aerials on the run, with the Wellington City Station
Bronto Skylift joining Thorndon’s 2007 model.
24–25 February
National Mountain Bike
Champs, Wainuiomata
Mountain Bike Trail Park,
Wellington. Contact
wfsmtbc@gmail.com or
inuniform.co.nz/mtbchamps
South Island Golf
Tournament, Motueka Golf
Club. Contact
mike.compton@fire.org.nz
10–12 March
National 7-a-side Soccer
Tournament, Napier. Contact
tony.adie@fire.org.nz or
brent.marshall@fire.org.nz
5 August
15–16 April
National Volleyball
Tournament, Palmerston
North. Contact Scott.bell@
fire.org.nz and Michael.
vankampen@fire.org.nz
for the latest information on fire service sports events go to: firenet/sports/upcomingsportsevents
6–8 May
National Squash
Tournament, New Plymouth.
Contact Rachel.lind@fire.
org.nz, 021 159 6898 or
sam.bennett@mando.net.nz
Prepare to get fit. Invitations are open for entries from all emergency services for the multisport
adventure race being held at Mount Maunganui on 5 August 2011. Details of the course
and format of the race are the same as last year’s event, see www.mmc.school.nz/tangaroa
More information is available from Tangaroa Challenge Adventure Race Director Steve Lake
at tangaroachallenge@gmail.com