Puhoi Rural Fire Service Finally Gets Station

“Many of the public don’t realise that in rural communities Rural Fire Service are the first response to a medical emergency. A station like Puhoi will spend many hours at traffic accidents, putting out fires takes up the least of their time” – Cr Penny Webster

Located immediately beside Sate Highway 1, as well as imminent future infrastructure, the Puhoi area of North Auckland is growing, and it’s community see having a fire station as a neccesity. The exsiting station has been run out of the local garage with a container holding uniforms and equipment and fund raising ongoing for a new purpose built station to be contructed. The Rodney District Council prior to amalgamation was able to give some land and the Brigade needed to get a resource consent, unfortunately there were objectors so the project got stalled. However $100,000 was spent on getting down the concrete slab to establish the site. “When I was Mayor for Rodney District Council I supported the establishment of a Rural Fire Service at Puhoi, and was determined to see the station completed”, says current Councillor for Rodney Penny Webster.

Working alongside Brian Cartelle, Auckland Council Fire Chief and Principal Rural Fire Officer for Rodney Scott Marchant, every effort to find the funds needed to continue the project have been made. Finally, at this years last Auckland Council Finance and Performance meeting, the decision was made to grant the funds. $495,000 has been assigned to continue the building of the station and the brigade are said to be delighted. “Just getting the uniforms out of the container and into a building will be amazing" says Marchant.

“Supporting Rural fire is one of my passionate priorities. These volunteers, both men and woman, do an amazing job”, says Webster. “Many of the public don’t realise that in rural communities Rural Fire Service are the first response to a medical emergency. A station like Puhoi will spend many hours at traffic accidents, putting out fires takes up the least of their time”.

The station is still looking for additional funding to complete its first station but says that the funding secured from Council with the help of Councillor Webster has made a considerable difference to the service.

ENDS

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