Fire brigade calls for more members

The Kurow Volunteer Fire Brigade will host a community meeting on Monday, to try to attract new...
The Kurow Volunteer Fire Brigade will host a community meeting on Monday, to try to attract new members to the brigade.PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The alarm is being sounded for more firefighters in the Waitaki Valley.

While it is not a ‘‘do-or-die’’ situation yet, the Kurow Volunteer Fire Brigade will hold a community meeting on Monday, in a bid to attract new members, following a decline in the past year.

Three people had left the brigade. It now had only 10 members, including two operational and non-operational support members.

Realistically 12 members were required for the brigade to be fully functioning, and chief fire officer John Sturgeon hoped the meeting could garner new support.

‘‘It’s just a matter of serving. Your coming [to the meeting], I think, is the biggest thing,’’ Mr Sturgeon said.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand area commander Keith McIntosh and Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher would join Mr Sturgeon at the meeting. Mr McIntosh and Mr Kircher signed a community letter for the brigade, and Mr Sturgeon said it was great to have the support.

A pamphlet was sent out to Kurow residents last week and received a positive response. Several people contacted Mr Sturgeon expressing an interest and there was a ‘‘strong possibility’’ they would attend the meeting.

The brigade was a first response unit, attending about 35 callouts per year that were mainly medical or motor vehicle accidents.

The members were a group of passionate, experienced people who were willing to welcome anyone putting their hand up, he said.

‘‘They’re also great guys as far as training others. They’re quite a close-knit unit actually — we would welcome new members to join us, and train with us.’’

Omarama Volunteer Fire Brigade was in a similar position as numbers dwindled.

The brigade had five firefighters, five first responders and three operational support, but chief fire officer Greg Harper said about another six were required.

‘‘If we could get three or four that would be a good start,’’ Mr Harper said.

One person had already signed up and brigade members would be ‘‘tapping on shoulders’’ to get people to join.

‘‘It’s not for everyone, to be fair. We all understand that. Small communities are usually pretty good, so I’m sure we’ll get a few.’’

The brigade dealt with up to 120 calls a year, and all the members were ‘‘like family’’.

‘‘We look after each other — that’s important.’’

kayla.hodge@odt.co.nz

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