Sole firefighter example of volunteer shortage

Only one volunteer firefighter was available to answer the call for help when the Waitati Volunteer Fire Brigade was dispatched to a fire in Purakaunui yesterday.

While the "house fire'' was actually a hedge fire which was also attended by the Port Chalmers brigade, the incident highlighted the struggle small stations were having to find daytime volunteers, firefighters said.

Waitati Chief Fire Officer Jeff Burrow said it was the second time this year the Waitati brigade had not been able to field enough crew to man a fire appliance.

A minimum of four firefighters qualified to use breathing apparatus are needed to man a fire appliance.

A lack of daytime volunteers was a common problem at stations located close to cities, as many people commuted to work in the city, he said.

"It is just the modern world we live in.  "It is a concern to me that we can't put a crew together in the day, especially coming up to winter.''

The fire service had implemented a new plan to automatically dispatch a back-up appliance from the city during the day, not just for large fires, but for all calls, about 12 to 18 months ago, he said.

However, city crews were 15 minutes' drive away on the Northern Motorway. The station had not yet been in the situation where there was a call-out and the motorway was closed, although in that case most people would not have been able to get to work and would therefore be at home, Mr Burrow said.

"We do have good back up from the guys in town. It is good to know they're coming.''  Ian Armstrong, Chief Fire Officer at Brighton, said it was a nationwide problem.

"There have been occasions over the years we have had to go KO, which means there is only one person there.

"This is not a new problem.  "It is just the way we live these days.''