Ruapehu Rural Fire Volunteers Ready for Fire Season

Ruapehu’s rural fire fighting capability has been given a boost with seven new rural fire fighters completing basic training over the weekend.

The new rural fire volunteers completed the NZQA recognised ‘Basic Rural Fire Fighter Course’ which gives them the skills to operate safely in a live rural fire fighting situation.

Ruapehu District Council (RDC) Principal Rural Fire Officer, Nick Watson, said that in anticipation of a busy summer fire season Ruapehu Rural Fire has been actively recruiting to ensure that we have a depth of well-trained rural fire volunteers available.

“The seven new recruits comprised four volunteers from the Ruapehu Rural Fire Authority and three from the Department of Conservation (DOC).”

“Over the two days the training covered; safe work practices, personal safety, dry and water fire-fighting techniques and getting water to the fire-front,” he said.

Mr Watson said that although the official rural fire season has just started on 1 October rural fire volunteer crews had been called out to three fires during September already.”

“With vegetation and undergrowth around Ruapehu district already being very dry for this time of the year we are asking anyone planning a controlled burn-off needs to take all practical precautions.”

“The Ruapehu fire status is currently ‘open’ and no permit is required unless you are within one kilometer of a DOC controlled area,” he said.

“DOC requires permits all year round for any fires on land that they are responsible for.”

“Anyone planning an open air fire should note that council provides safe fire practice advice including free on-site fire safety inspections and advice

Mr Watson added that Ruapehu Rural Fire always welcomes new rural fire volunteers.

“Anyone who would like to know more about what is involved should contact me via their nearest RDC office,” he said.

“People shouldn’t be nervous about looking into what’s involved.”

“There are a number of roles that don’t require any firefighting so we really are looking for a wide range of people of different skills and abilities.”

“All you need is to be at least 17 years old and without a criminal record.”

“If you ask any rural fire volunteer they will all tell you that they get a huge amount of personal satisfaction and reward from being involved.”

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