Due to the large geographical area they cover, firefighters can be called to emergencies stretching from Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park through to the Manapōuri power station at West Arm and surrounding rural areas.
The brigade plays a vital role in keeping both locals and visitors safe, working closely alongside emergency services including police and Hato Hone St John.
“Because of our very large and diverse coverage area, we can be gone for hours at a time. Our closest backup is 20 and 60km away,” he said.
“We have multi-skilled members trained to respond to all sorts of incidents, from crashes, line rescue and medical events to helicopter response, urban search and rescue, and of course firefighting.”
“Without this support we simply couldn’t do what we do,” CFO Moffat said.
Like many fire brigades across New Zealand, the Te Anau brigade relies heavily on volunteers who are ready to respond at any time of the day or night.
Across the country, Fire and Emergency New Zealand volunteers show up for their communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. More than 11,800 people give their time as volunteer firefighters, operational support members, medical first responders and brigade support staff.
“In the public’s eyes, if a big red fire truck turns up and firefighters get out of it, they expect the same service whether those firefighters are volunteers or career staff,” CFO Moffat said.
“That’s why we train so often. Every call is different — you have to expect the unexpected and be ready to adapt.”
The brigade attends around 100 incidents each year, with a large number involving road crashes.
“About 40% of our calls are motor vehicle crashes,” CFO Moffat said.
Members regularly support community events and activities, including organising food drives, running water slides for local scouts, clubs and school groups, and helping deliver Santa to preschoolers during the Christmas season.
The brigade also takes part in a range of firefighter competitions and fundraising events, including the Sky Tower Challenge in Auckland, which raises money for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand. Te Anau also has a champion ladies’ Wajax team competing in rural firefighting events.
In addition to supporting their own community, the brigade also helps fellow firefighters through a programme called K10. The initiative brings firefighters from around New Zealand to Te Anau for a weekend of activities and support if they are going through difficult times.
Opportunities like these are just some of the reasons volunteers say being part of the brigade is so rewarding.
The team includes members ranging in age from 17 to 70, all bringing different skills and experiences to the brigade.
However, like many volunteer organisations, recruitment can sometimes be a challenge as younger members move away for work or study.
That’s why the brigade is encouraging locals who may be interested in helping their community to consider volunteering.
Volunteers gain valuable skills including emergency response, teamwork and practical problem-solving that can be useful both on and off the fire ground.
• For those thinking about volunteering, the brigade’s message is simple — come along and see what it’s all about.
To find out more about volunteering, locals are encouraged to attend a training night at the Te Anau Volunteer Fire Brigade. Training nights are held at 7pm on Mondays.
You can also learn more about volunteering by visiting www.fireandemergency.nz/volunteer.
