With about 140 firefighters in town, Omarama could be one of
the safest places to be next March.
The town, which in 1971 started the annual Wajax competition
for Otago and Southland rural firefighters, is the venue for
next year's event, for the third time in the event's 40-year
history.
Omarama rural fire officer Lex Perriam said yesterday the
first competition had four teams - Omarama, Stewart Island,
Glenorchy and Lake Hawea.
Next year's event is expected to have up to 28 teams, made up
of four firefighters and usually one reserve.
It is the biggest and longest-running volunteer firefighting
competition in New Zealand.
Along with supporters and family, up to 300 people are
expected for the event, which is being staged at the Country
Time Hotel and surrounding land area.
The competition is named after the Wajax portable pump, one
of a rural firefighter's main pieces of equipment when the
competition started. While still used now, the pump
"backpack", which was carried in to fires, has been
superseded by fire chasers and 4WD vehicles.
The event starts on March 16.
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