Fire + Rescue Issue 72 - New Zealand Fire Service

September 2011 / Issue 72
Ready
foR Rescue
Plus
AucklAnd ExploSIon
WEllIngton lIfESAvErS

thE nEW zEAlAnd fIrE SErvIcE
Fire+Rescue is the flagship
publication of the New Zealand
Fire Service.
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National Headquarters,
Level 9, 80 The Terrace, Wellington.
contrIbutIonS to fIrE+rEScuE
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reproduced without the permission
of the editor.
ISSN: 1176-6670 (Print)
ISSN: 1177-8679 (Online)
front covEr
The Feilding team competes
at the recent RCR challenges.
Photo: Dominion Post.
2 / Fire+Rescue / September 2011
Team Talk
It’s all about teamwork. When a
few of the All Blacks dropped in to
talk to Christchurch emergency service
personnel the discussion was about the
team response to the earthquake.
kIWI flIES hIgh In AuStrAlIA
A former New Zealand firefighter
has recently become the second
Kiwi to be awarded the Australian
Fire Services Medal.
Bruce Jones, Western Australia’s Regional
Director Fire and Emergency Services
Authority (FESA), was recognised in the
Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his
work to improve fire and rescue services,
including the introduction of major
incident management training.
Bruce served in the NZFS for 27 years
from the early 1970s until his appointment
to FESA in 1997.
He worked largely in Auckland, rising
through the ranks to become Divisional
Officer Training in Auckland City and then
National Training Manager in Wellington
in the mid-1990s.
Bruce Jones was and still is well known for
his pioneering work in rescue extrication.
He led much of the development of this
The players met with Police and Fire
personnel and their families in late July.
The kids made the most of a chance
to meet their sporting heroes while the All
Blacks showed their appreciation for the
work of their parents during the earthquake.
Two rugby shirts signed by the All Blacks team were presented to the Christchurch Police and Fire Service.
From left: Ma’a Nonu, Assistant National Commander Dan Coward, Inspector John Price, Adam Thompson,
Conrad Smith.
skill in New Zealand. He also led the
establishment of the USAR capability
within the NZFS and visited San Francisco
after its 1989 earthquake to learn more
about urban search and rescue
techniques, management and modelling.
His interest in this also helped him to
set up the vehicle rescue extrication
competitions held throughout Australasia.
The other New Zealander to receive the
Australian Fire Services Medal was former
Auckland Chief Fire Officer Allan Bruce,
who himself led changes in South
Australian Fire Services.

EStructurE –
nearing the end
We are now eight months into our restructure and almost at the finish
line. It’s been a long, careful process and the results will be based almost
entirely on the feedback we have had during the consultation process.
By the end of next month
(October) the final result will
be known and implementation
of the changes will begin.
Everyone involved is very conscious that,
as with any change, it can leave some
people feeling uncertain and anxious
about what that change will mean to
them; especially when their reporting
lines change, the role has been changed
or disestablished. By now most of you
will have seen the Phase 2 proposal
for consultation and its organisation
charts. If you have concerns, please talk
to your manager. The document is also
open to further comment and input.
Region meetings were held in August
but written submissions can still
be sent to the team via Fa’a Parsons
(faa.parsons@fire.org.nz) up until
16 September.
The drivers for the change remain
the same. We need a structure that
better supports its personnel and the
services we provide to communities.
The feedback has made it clear that
people in the regions need to be freed
up from paperwork and administrative
tasks so they can concentrate
on the service they provide to their
communities. We can do this by
providing more national management
and support of the resources they need.
fIght IntErruptEd
Two Christchurch charities are
now $40,000 better off as a result
of a Christchurch boxing event between
Police and the Fire Service.
The proposal is also to introduce more
consistency to the organisation. To help
with this, we propose reducing the
current regional roles from 52 different
titles down to 14 region or area-based
roles. It also proposes removing some
management layers to remove
bureaucracy, speed us up and make us
more responsive.
Under the proposal, functions such as
Fleet, Property and Training will form
part of a Region Support Centre, based
in each region. This will allow direct
communication and understanding of
local needs and issues but by reporting
nationally, they will help drive the push
for consistency that everyone has been
talking about.
There’s also a drive to put more
resources into better integrating our
business planning and performance
monitoring. Some of the new roles
focus on this. We also propose to
introduce development roles at an area
and region level – to open a path to
senior management and provide
assistance to Fire Region Managers and
Area Managers. This will also give these
managers more time to lead and
support their people.
Our goal is to become a national Fire
Service that has the same structure
The fight to raise money for Camp Quality
and Burns Support was held on
12 February, just before the earthquake.
So with everyone being just a bit busy
for the past five months, it’s taken until
recently for the funds to be officially
handed over to the two charities.
Paul Baxter. Team Leader: Region Restructure
and Realignment Project Team.
and level of service in Southland as it
does in Northland. All regions will be
working toward the same national
outcomes and meeting their own local
needs. We will all be performing more
effectively and have the resources where
we need them, when we need them.
Paul Baxter
Assistant National Commander
editorial
Co-organiser Constable Mike Kneebone
said the February event was a sellout
success and the two organisations were
pleased to finally be able to hand over
the proceeds.
Fire+Rescue / September 2011 / 3

feature
Tirfor
wars
Take 153 cars that have been dropped from a great height, combine
them with the extrication skills of firefighters from New Zealand and around
the world and you get a great competition.
In all, 23 teams battled it out in the
World and Australasian Road Rescue
Challenges held in Upper Hutt in July.
The teams from New Zealand held their
own against some tough competition, with
Morrinsville and Feilding consistently
placing second or third in almost all of the
Australasian events and categories.
The World Challenge was taken out by
the Royal Berkshire Rescue Team,
with the Hawera Brigade taking the top
New Zealand spot in eighth place.
Feilding excels
Feilding Chief Fire Officer Peter Guard is
the coach for his team and says being
placed second in the Australasian
challenge was the best result they had
ever had and they’re looking forward to
going to the World challenge in London
in October 2012.
Feilding shows their...
4 / Fire+Rescue / September 2011
“We’ve been training twice a week for the
last six months. It took a lot of cars to
hone our skills and we’ve got to thank our
local wrecker, Strong’s Metals for that.
They gave them to us to cut up and we
gave them back in bits.”
Peter says the team’s medic, Warren
Dickson, worked with local ambulance
staff to improve his skills and was
delighted to be placed second overall
in the medical category as he was
competing against the paramedics of
other teams.
“This challenge is all about the learning.
The guys get significantly more training
than they normally would and as a result
of these challenges their skill levels
for RCR are as good as anywhere in the
world. The learning is just top notch.
The events are identical to what we find
on the road in real life.”
Photo: Dominion Post
PreParation Pays
Many of the competitors commented
on just how realistic the competition
scenarios were. Much of this is due to the
planning done by the organisers, including
the Chief Assessor, Christchurch Senior
Station Officer Dave Stackhouse.
“We prepared over 150 vehicles that were
matched to scenarios that were all
modelled from road jobs we have attended,
so we provided maximum operational
realism. This year we included live, limbentrapped
casualties with realistic
moulage which added another realistic
element for OICs and medics to consider in
their dynamic risk assessments and
extrication planning,” he said.
Holden supplied 60 late model new
vehicles as part of its ongoing
sponsorship to Australian Road Rescue
Organisation (ARRO) and they were a
great drawcard. There was also a bus and
a tractor unit for teams to work on.
“The new car technology in the Holdens
presented a great learning opportunity for
all teams as well as several challenges.
One team reckoned it was like cutting up
a ‘tank’. We crane dropped one Holden,
calibrated to 108km/hr, and there was no
deformation into the footwell area – truly
a safe car,” said Dave.
symPosium success
He was also pleased with the learning
symposium which included presentations
on lessons learned from the recent
Christchurch earthquake and Queensland
floods.

Australasian
Overall Champions
1st Werribee Fire Brigade,
CFA Victoria
2nd Feilding Volunteer Fire
Brigade, NZ
3rd Morrinsville Volunteer
Fire Brigade, NZ
World Champions
1st Royal Berkshire
Rescue Team
2nd Werribee Fire Brigade,
CFA Victoria
3rd Generalitat de
Catalunya
(Granollers Spain)
There were also practical sessions
on heavy rescue lifting and rollovers,
sill entrapment options, mechanical
advantage with winches and primary
medical intervention.
All the teams that competed were
required to attend a workshop on
extrication techniques on new cars and
medical patent planning with effective
packaging options to match rescuers'
extrication plans.
This year there was more involvement for
first aiders and paramedics with a trauma
challenge introduced as a trial which was
particularly successful.
Dave said, “Overall, the challenge was a
very enjoyable experience for all teams
which can only enhance our learning and
operational thinking with subsequent
benefit to our road rescue capabilities.”
Chris Walbran with a few of the cars used during
the challenge.
Feilding team members: Kevin Penn, Jonathon Bunn, Warren Dickson (medic) , Gareth Campbell, Glenn
Davies (leader), Willie Phillip, Mike Dalley.
tips from the assessors
command – Establish the physical entrapment of the patient
and learn to read the impact damage along the mechanism
of injury to establish a joint extrication plan.
technical – Practice your tool angles and don’t rush
relief cuts with side sill entrapments. Also, more effective
management of laminated screens is required when working
close to patients.
Medical – Remember the basics with your primary
and secondary surveys and advocate for the patient.
Share the learning – Take the lessons learned back to
your brigades and share the knowledge, promote discussion
and encourage others to give the challenge a go as it’s a
complementary link to your training and operational skill base.
Photo: Dominion Post
Fire+Rescue / September 2011 / 5

Morrinsville team members Steve Hart and Shayne Morgan with their team
mascot which was nicked by Tasmania at the last challenge. Donkey was
handed back at this challenge.
Planning for the challenges turned into a challenge
of its own when, four months out, the February
earthquake forced the organisers to move the event from
Christchurch to Wellington.
The original UFBA organising committee kept on with their
planning for how the event would be run, while additional
personnel were brought in to make all the arrangements
needed to stage the event in Wellington.
Sourcing the vehicles, premises, logistical support and
manpower for the event was no small task but in the end the
2011 World and Australasian Road Crash Challenges and
Trauma Challenge will be remembered by everyone for how
well it all went, said Chris Walbran, who was the New Zealand
Fire Service representative on the committee and Project
Manager for Rescue 2011.
He was particularly impressed at how well Facebook worked to
find volunteers for weekend working bees leading up to the
event. In all, around 140 people donated around 9,000 hours of
time before, during and immediately after the event and it was
their combined efforts that made it such a success, he said.
Those who worked behind the scenes to support the competitors
made it clear they had a great time and picked up some new
ideas while taking part in the event. Chris says there have been
numerous emails thanking the organisers for the opportunity
while sponsors and other organisations supplying goods and
services are keen to book a slot for the next challenge.
To everyone who gave their
time, expertise, muscle and
organisation skills — many
many thanks for making the
event the successful learning
environment it was.
6 / Fire+Rescue / September 2011
WEllIngton projEct
saves lives
Few people survive a cardiac
arrest. So for the Johnsonville
firefighters who helped resuscitate
two men within an hour, and
for both to survive, it was one
of the most satisfying days of
their careers.
The two men were both attending an event at a
school when they collapsed. Their survival was
due to the availability of a chain of rapid response
emergency care.
The chain began several years ago with the leadership and
commitment of Karori Station Officer Grant Haywood to a
Wellington community project to put defibrillators on all the
city’s fire appliances and have Wellington Free Ambulance
dispatch appliances to cardiac arrest incidents.
Johnsonville Senior Station Officer James Gray remembers
being part of the first crew to revive someone using a
defibrillator, and for that patient to go on to a full recovery.
“To have that first success just two weeks into the project
and now to help two people who collapsed on the same
day, at the same event, and for them to survive, that’s
pretty awesome,” he said.
Over his career James reckons he’s been to about
200 cardiac arrests and he knows of just 16 who
have recovered.
Grant Haywood is part of an Otago University School of
Medicine, Wellington Free Ambulance and Fire Service
partnership to research and improve the Wellington
cardiac arrest survival rates.
“To survive, you generally need to be in the right place
at the right time. Someone has to start doing CPR
almost immediately, defibrillation is needed, ongoing
CPR, paramedic care and a quick trip to hospital
for further emergency care.” It’s a bit like having all the
planets in alignment.
Because ambulances are often already mobile –
responding to emergencies or transporting patients,
the Fire Service can play a vital role in providing early
CPR and defibrillation.

A study of the past three years’ results of
dispatching firefighters to many of the
cardiac arrests in the Wellington area
shows that, on average, an appliance will
reach the victim about two minutes ahead
of an ambulance. Those two minutes are
vital to improving survivability.
The research has been accepted for
publication in the New Zealand Medical
Journal. Leader of the research group,
Dr Andy Swain, said this study and other
international research show how important
it is to have CPR and defibrillation provided
as quickly as possible after a cardiac arrest.
As a result of the study, the group has
already made changes to the ambulance
dispatch process. Today, Wellington fire
appliances are dispatched automatically at
the same time as an ambulance. Previously,
if an ambulance appeared to be closer to
the victim, a fire crew was not dispatched.
“Firefighters are often much more
available as they’re generally at their base
and there are more fire stations and
trucks than there are ambulances. Even
when the ambulance gets there first, there
are only two paramedics on board. It takes
a lot of people to maintain the right pace
of CPR, so having four firefighters to help
can make a huge difference. Early CPR
and defibrillation followed by the medical
care that ambulance crews can provide is
crucial,” he said.
Wellington cardiac arrest survivability
rates are now 11 percent compared with
two percent in New York, and six percent
in Brisbane.
The lifesavers: From left: Mike Robertson, Sam Clark, Jeff Ferguson, Adam Burgess, Belinda Westenra, Indira Wieringa, James Gray.
Having defibrillators on board fire
appliances doesn’t just save lives among
the public. One volunteer brigade has used
its defibrillators three times to resuscitate
members of the brigade who collapsed
during training or while they were out
at a job.
The thank you card sent to the Johnsonville crew
from one of the men they helped save that day.
Fire+Rescue / September 2011 / 7

fire-side
Underground explosion –
multiple casualties
Critically injured people, an unknown number of people missing, the chance
of another explosion – Senior Station Officer Craig Monrad had a lot of decisions
to make when he arrived at the scene of a gas explosion in a water main at
Onehunga just after 8am on June 4.
The explosion happened as a group
of Watercare Services contractors
were working over the Queen’s
Birthday holiday weekend to connect a
new water main to an existing one at the
intersection of Mt Smart Rd, Victoria St
and Athens Rd in Onehunga.
On arrival, there was a great deal of
confusion and it was suggested there
may have been multiple casualties
and possibly as many as three or more
contractors trapped in the pipe.
Craig said he began his normal incident
assessment: “I just made a judgement
on what was the best action to take – to
go down and begin a search and rescue,
whether there was likely to be another
explosion, where the gas leak could be
coming from and so on.”
He said that because it was a water pipe
he felt that most of the gas was likely
to have been burned up in the initial
explosion and so sent a crew down into
the excavated area around the pipe with
breathing apparatus (BA) and gas
detectors. “There were people in this hole
who needed to be rescued.”
Acting Area Manager Steve Lakin said
when he was paged his first thought was
“Tunnel explosion, another Pike River.”
He arrived a few minutes after Craig and
other responders from Ellerslie, Mt Roskill
and Mt Wellington and took command.
8 / Fire+Rescue / September 2011
“The initial actions of those first crews
were truly remarkable. Craig has my
admiration; he dealt with a very complex
set of circumstances that raised
significant difficulties. He made all the
right calls”, said Steve.
The initial actions of
those first crews were
truly remarkable.
Craig said, “It felt to me like it was all over
within about 15 minutes.” During those
first critical minutes he called for
additional appliances and rescue tenders
to quickly build up the number of Stokes
Baskets and manpower needed to bring
the injured up and out of the deep pit that
had been dug to expose the water pipes.
“Our first priority was to get them up
to the surface to the ambulance crews.
The initial four crews helped one person
to the surface then carried out first aid
on a badly injured person at the entrance
to the pipe. Meanwhile, crews in BA
entered the pipe to rescue the two people
found 40 metres up the pipe to the west.
Another arriving crew searched the pipe
to the east where the Watercare workers
had originally entered. “There was some
initial confusion as to where victims may
be as they had been blown from one pipe
and into the other – so contractors could
not confirm that the seven casualties we
had located were the only ones involved.
Until we could get confirmation, I treated
the incident as persons reported,”
said Craig.
Sadly, 48-year-old Philomen Gulland died of
her injuries before she could be rescued.
Her colleague, Ian Winson, lost both his legs.
The incident dragged on for several hours
after the rescue, as crews were needed
to monitor gas levels. One reading taken
200 metres into the pipe showed gas had
built up again to explosive level. For Steve
Lakin, it was the first time he had been
caught up in a media frenzy of this
magnitude. “Because people heard ‘tunnel
explosion’ and ‘fatalities’ we were all
wondering if there was another Pike River
happening.”
As a result, there was also intense political
scrutiny on the emergency response, from
local as well as government politicians.
“The Mayor as well as the Prime Minister
wanted to know what was happening and
what we were doing,” he said.
The command structure was put in place
with Police as the lead agency and those
involved working out of the hazmat/
command unit.
“We were under some time pressure as
Watercare needed to get the water back
on by Tuesday morning.”

Caption
Top: Aerial view of the incident scene. Bottom: Ready to provide support.
Photo: NZ Herald
Photo: NZPA
Fire+Rescue / September 2011 / 9

Helping to screen one of the injured.
The professionalism of the
crews showed through. They did
what was needed and no doubt
there will be an impact
Area Manager Murray Binning said it was challenging to keep
everything lined up but in hindsight there wasn’t much that
could have been done differently.
Steve and Craig both said, because of the severity of the
injuries and the stress of not knowing if there would be
another explosion, the incident was particularly traumatic
for those involved.
Craig said there is still some informal debriefing and
discussion going on.
“The professionalism of the crews showed through.
They did what was needed and no doubt there will be
an impact emotionally,” he said.
10 / Fire+Rescue / September 2011
Photo: NZPA
chASIng
the dollars
The earthquakes haven’t just
shaken up Canterbury, they’ve also
shaken up the insurance market
and this is going to impact on the
Fire Service Levy, which funds
the Fire Service.
Chief Financial Officer Brett Warwick says the effect
won’t be immediate and it won’t all be bad news.
“People are still paying insurance premiums. Even
those whose Christchurch buildings have been toppled
will keep paying their premiums up until their claim has
been finalised and paid out.”
However, once the buildings have been bulldozed, there
will be a lag while owners decide whether to rebuild and, if
so, where. “Once building starts, so too will the insurance
– probably,” said Brett.
“There is talk of earthquake cover in the Canterbury area
becoming hard to get or unaffordable for many people.
Premiums are also likely to increase for the rest of the
country. The Fire Service’s own insurance premiums are
set to quadruple.”
So, we do expect to have a
reduction in the levy income
next year and possibly the
year after. Just how much
is unclear.
Brett’s pick is that for the next few years at least, some
people may choose not to insure, others may choose
simply to insure for fire and theft (as the Christchurch and
Waimakariri Councils have done). Large organisations,
like the Dunedin City Council, may decide to self-insure –
simply putting money aside for possible losses.
“So, we do expect to have a reduction in the levy income
next year and possibly the year after. Just how much is
unclear,” said Brett.
The reduction in the levy comes at a time when
operational costs are increasing. “So we will be continuing
to keep a tight grip on our budget and actively managing
costs wherever possible,” said Brett.

Darren and Warwick put in some practice at fighting for every dollar they can bring in.
It is also vital that the Fire Service does
whatever it can to make up for as much of
the shortfall as possible. This is where
Revenue and Assurance Manager Darren
Stafford and his team come in.
“We are doing more audits and
investigations of companies or agencies
that we don’t believe are paying the
correct amount of levy.”
The Fire Service is also ramping up the
work being done to bring in other revenue
to support its operational costs. It is
increasing its focus on charging for false
alarms and hazardous material incidents.
Earlier this year, Chief Executive/National
Commander Mike Hall sent out a national
notice which said, “Should these events
continue to take up more of our time, it is
important that those responsible for the
charge, pay. Attendance at these sorts of
incidents is becoming more part of our
‘core activities’ but we should not expect
that they will continue to be funded solely
by the Fire Service Levy.”
Darren said, “There’s no fire levy payable
on the transport of hazardous materials,
so it is important that we use the powers
we have under the Fire Service Act to
charge for our attendance and cleaning
up. This allows us to recover some of our
costs for the equipment and absorbents
we use.”
“There are now IT systems in place to
identify hazardous substances events
which makes it easier to send out
invoices. As a result, more areas are
following up on these incidents and we are
able to charge them for our services.”
Darren said that, as a rule, most of the
organisations that are invoiced support
the charge for hazmat incidents – after
all, what the crews are doing is preventing
a bigger and much more expensive
problem if the hazardous substances get
into the environment.
“A number of the companies that we have
dealt with have passed these charges on
to their insurer as they are covered under
their insurance policy,” said Darren.
Darren and his team are also chasing up
the companies and government agencies
that have outstanding false alarm
charges. In the past few years, a tougher
Fire Service approach to collecting the
charges that are owed has seen a
significant increase in this source of
revenue – the equivalent of several new
appliances or a new fire station.
“What may surprise people is that often
those who have the most alarms – and
continually request that we waive their
charges – are those that are considering
arrangements to reduce the amount of
levy that they pay.”
The Fire Service is using the court to
challenge some of the arrangements
that test insurance law around what is
owed in levy.
What may surprise people is that often those
who have the most alarms – and continually
request that we waive their charges – are
those that are considering arrangements to
reduce the amount of levy that they pay.
Fire+Rescue / September 2011 / 11

gIvIng
something back
Throughout New Zealand, thousands of employers support their local fire
brigades and their communities by releasing staff to answer the station siren.
The Fire Service recognises
these employers through
its Employer Recognition
Programme (ERP). As part of the
programme, employers are provided a
package of material they can use to show
their business supports the brigade.
This package includes a certificate for
their premises, a lapel badge, a small
window sign declaring they are an
employer of a volunteer firefighter and
NZFS branding for use on company
stationery. In addition, and perhaps most
importantly, the name of their business
is added to a purpose-built ERP sign
outside the fire station and/or to a similar
sign on the side of a fire appliance.
So far, about a quarter of the country’s
brigades have taken up the ERP and
promoted it to employers in their
community.
Chief Fire Officer of the Havelock North
Brigade, Alvan Wakeford, was one of the
first to promote the scheme to employers
when it was introduced back in 2007.
nEW typE 2 rollIng out
Oamaru firefighters have just taken
possession of the first of the Frasermade
Type 2 appliances.
A further 17 will be rolling out around
the country before the end of June 2012
following the prototype evaluation
carried out by several brigades around
the country.
This new Type 2 has several obvious
differences along with numerous
minor tweaks.
The big changes include the switch to a
single stage pump, the same as a Type 1.
12 / Fire+Rescue / September 2011
“We really wanted to give them something
back, something that recognised their
contribution to the brigade. And they
are grateful for that. I’ve been into some
of their businesses and you see the
certificates on the office wall, or they
have they decal in their shop windows.
It is something they value,” he said.
Four of Havelock North company Sirtrack
Ltd's 35 staff are volunteer firefighters.
Like the Fire Service, Chief Executive
Officer Mike Kelly says he places a high
value on their leadership and teamwork
attributes.
“The Fire Service provides good training
to these guys and this works to the
benefit of our company. We get four very
dedicated individuals who put their time
into their community and who also give a
lot back to the company,” he said.
As part of the ERP, the Fire Service also
financially supports an annual function for
brigades to officially thank the employers
and pays for the publication of a notice in
the local
There’s a larger water tank (capacity up
from 1,800 to 2,000 litres), and a second
light mast has been added on to the
passenger side of the body.
Hose ramps have also been mounted onto
the side of the body, which saves locker
space. There are some new electronic aids
such as the new anti-skid regulators and
the BA brackets have been redesigned so
that they are easier to use.
Perhaps the biggest and most noticeable
change is the introduction of a roller gantry
for the rescue ladder which will make it
easier to get it on and off the truck.
newspaper thanking and naming the
employers of volunteers. Takaka Chief Fire
Officer Phillip Woolf said some employers
can lose an employee to a fire call out once
or twice a week and it can be a bit of a
strain.
“There’s a limit on the amount of
commercial leverage a company can
make off this type of support but being
able to put up a sign or use the Employer
Recognition collateral in some way
does help,” he said.
He’s keen to take up the new ability for
brigades to be funded for both an
employer's sign outside the fire station
as well as a similar sign on the appliance.
The signage has also changed a bit. The
names of employers are now printed on
strips that can be quickly and easily added
or taken off a station sign or appliance.
Contact amie.galvin@fire.org.nz for
more details on the ERP.

Ight thInkIng for thE futurE
Robots might be the fire wardens
of the future.
Electrical engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in
Atlanta, USA, are working on a project to develop robots that
could guide people to safety if there is a fire.
The researchers suggest
that the robot would start
in ‘rescuer mode’ searching
for people who need help.
Left: The new signage displayed on the
Takaka appliance.
Below: From left: SFF Chris Milne (Sirtrack), SFF
Ashley Woon (Hirepool), QF Carl Vose (Havelock
North High School), DCFO Rodney Triplow (Gemco
Trades), CFO Alvan Wakeford (retired electrician),
Senior VSO Gary Dockary (Gilbarco).
In the August issue of New Scientist magazine the engineers
Ayanna Howard and Paul Robinette describe their potential robot
as something of a smart, roving, exit sign. The robots would also
have communication devices allowing information to be sent to
and from emergency services.
They believe the robots could be stored in buildings until they
receive instructions from a human operator during an
emergency. The researchers suggest that the robot would start in
‘rescuer mode’ searching for people who need help. They then
guide people to safety. If they find someone who has been injured
then the robot alerts the emergency service and stays with the
victim until help arrives.
Other robots could become static signs – pointing people to the
escape route and blocking dangerous exits.
Fire+Rescue / September 2011 / 13

SAvEd by
the sprinkler
Churches are a target for arson. Roughly half of all fires in churches
are deliberately lit and crews are called out to between 20 and 30 fires
in church buildings each year.
When a fire does take hold in a
much loved church the effect can
be devastating for both the
building and the congregation. This is
something Wellington Archdeacon Jenny
Dawson had to deal with in February 2010
when the Anglican St Andrew's Church on
Plimmerton’s main street was severely
damaged after a fire was deliberately lit in
a cupboard that contained dried flowers.
“We rebuilt it and have put in various
alarms and smoke detectors but, sadly,
sprinklers were just more than we
could afford,” she said.
Not that she isn’t well aware of what a
saviour a sprinkler system can be. In June
this year, her diocese’s small and perfectly
formed historic church in Pauatahanui
was hit by a Wellington serial arsonist.
The 43-year-old man has been charged
with lighting 10 fires in the region over
one weekend.
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
CHURCH STRUCTURe FIReS
2006/07
14 / Fire+Rescue / September 2011
The fire was lit in a box of clothing on the
porch of St Alban’s in Pauatahanui but
was quickly doused by a sprinkler head.
The porch was scorched but the damage
was repaired for less than the church’s
$2,500 insurance policy excess.
Jenny Dawson said, “Even though St
Alban's was not badly damaged, the public
reaction was one of great concern. It’s a
very pretty church and many people have
friends and family buried on the site.
It’s also popular for weddings, so a lot of
people know and care about St Alban's.”
The installation of the sprinkler system was
funded by a community grant back in 2005
because the church is an historic building.
The Anglican Church’s property manager for
the region is David Chapple. He says arson
prevention is an important part of church
caretaking and he regularly reminds parishes
of the different ways to reduce fire risk.
2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11
Non Suspicious Suspicious
“People in each parish are encouraged to
keep an eye out for litter, vandalism and
signs of a break in. We also have alarms,
security lights and smoke detectors in most
churches and staff make daily checks.”
He said it was also important for the
parish to keep on top of external
‘housekeeping’ – making sure plantings
are kept trimmed back so people can’t
hide, putting rubbish bins well away from
the building and so on.
While, ideally, he’d like to be able to
install sprinklers in all churches, he says
the cost of putting them in and then
maintaining and monitoring the system is
unaffordable. Instead, he’s working toward
improving the early warning systems.
“I’ve been talking with Mitchell Brown
(Assistant Manager Manawatu) to see
what the best options are,” he said.
Jenny Dawson and the historic St Alban's Church.

A couple of minutes with
Scott
Sargentina
Q:
Where are you
stationed?
a: National
Headquarters
Q:
What’s your
title?
a: Corporate
Communications Manager
Q:
What’s been your
progression within
the NZFS?
Left Telecom to become
a: Partnership Manager at NZFS.
Took over as Comms Manager in
2007 when Debbie Barber left.
Q:
a:
Q:
Tell us about
your family?
Married to Michelle with
two boys – Jack and Max.
What’s the one thing
that sticks in your mind
about the job?
The passionate, enthusiastic
a: NZFS people throughout the
country that I have the privilege of
meeting. For the majority of them
it’s not a job – it’s a calling.
Q:
If you could make one
change to the Fire Service
what would it be?
Adding Fire Risk
a: Management/Community
Education to OSM.
Q:
a:
Your most embarrassing
moment on the job?
Regularly getting a hiding
on the squash court from the
National Commander.
Q:
What’s one thing people
would be surprised to learn
about you?
I can actually
play squash.
a:
Q:
a:
If I wasn’t in the Fire Service
I’d be?
Back in advertising or a
professional rugby referee.
Favourite movie:
shawshank redemption, groundhog day
Favourite tV show:
modern Family, rugby on sky sport
q+a
Favourite music group:
old school – genesis, alice cooper,
Jethro tull, the Boss, stones, Pink Floyd
and James taylor
Favourite sport:
rugby and cricket. it used to be squash
but not so much now!
Favourite book:
sunbird (Wilbur smith), Pillars of the earth
(Ken Follett)
Favourite holiday destination:
gold coast theme parks for the kids.
But would go back to rio in a flash.
Fire+Rescue / September 2011 / 15

WEll donE
Keen and competitive mountain biker Mark Renall is this year’s
NZFS Sports Council Sportsperson of the Year. Mark (NHQ Purchase
Card Accountant) was nominated for his contribution to competitive
and recreational cycling, particularly in the Wellington region.
He is a former international competitor and still competes locally.
Mark is also a committee member of the Port Nicholson Poneke
Cycling Club, the Belmont Area Mountain Bike Association and the
Wainuiomata Trail Park.
Over the years he has strengthened relationships between cyclists
and local councils working with councils to help build tracks used by
mountain bikers, walkers and runners.
The Sports Council Special Achievement in Sport Award went to
Wellington Senior Firefighter Manny Hargreaves who competed in
six national tournaments in the past year, including golf, surfing
and volleyball.
Commission Chair Dame Margaret presents the trophy to Mark Renall.
5–7 October
National Golf Tournament,
Te Puke Golf Club.
Contact: Brent.Sanford@fire.org.nz
16– 21 October
Australasian Fire Brigades Golf
Championship, Alice Springs, Australia.
Contact: Ray.Shields@fire.org.nz,
07 347 2252
23 October
Off Road Raglan Multisport Event,
Raglan Fire Brigade. Contact:
dirkderuysscher@yahoo.co.nz
27– 29 October
National 7-a-side Soccer Tournament,
Napier. Contact: Tony.Adie@fire.org.nz
or Brent.Marshall@fire.org.nz
5 November
Taranaki Toughest Firefighter, Around
the Mountain, Oakura.
Contact: da-rielly@hotmail.com,
06 762 7301
nEW zEAlAnd fIrE
SErvIcE SportS councIl
neW Zealand Fire serVice sPorts council
sPecial acHieVement aWard
Nominations are called for the 2011 Special Achievement
Award. The award recognises special achievements awarded
to or gained by members of the New Zealand Fire Service.
All nominations must detail the achievement in writing.
neW Zealand Fire serVice sPortsPerson
oF tHe year
Nominations are also called for the 2011 Sportsperson
of the Year. The award will be presented by the NZFS
Commission at NHQ in Wellington.
All members of the Fire Service are eligible for these
two awards. Nominations will be received up until 4pm on
23 October 2011 by:
The Secretary
New Zealand Fire Service Sports Council
4 Kim Street, Wainuiomata
WELLINGTON
Email james.molenaar@fire.org.nz
neW Zealand Fire serVice sPorts council
loans and grants
In accordance with its Rules and Constitution, the
New Zealand Fire Service Sports Council is calling for
applications for loans or grants for events to be held
between 9 November 2011 and 20 October 2012.
Applications close on 23 October 2010 at 4pm and
will be considered at the Sports Council AGM in
November. Contact the Secretary (details above) for
an application form.
Completed application forms to be returned to your local
rep (addresses and phone numbers are on Firenet/Sports).
For the latest information on Fire service sports events go to:
Firenet/sports/upcomingsportsevents
13 November
Wellington West Coast
Golf Tournament, Foxton Golf Club.
Contact: Robert.Christie@fire.org.nz
15 November
Auckland F/B Golf Club Tournament,
Waitakere Golf Club. Contact:
Hayden.Robinson@fire.org.nz,
021 893 861