The irony is that the Dennis fire engine featured in the monthly magazine K1 will never again be ‘K1’! Longer serving members of the Unit have watched progress over the years as member, Deputy Chief Ric Carlyon, has restored his vintage 1930 Dennis Dart fire engine.   Now the old appliance has been written up in K1 magazine.   But it’s not expected to be ‘K1’* ever again, enjoying quiet retirement in its own “fire station” out in the countryside near Waiuku and in the happy state of complete restoration.   “It’s fitting that the Dennis has been written up now that it’s reached 80 years old,” says Ric, “... a milestone we recently celebrated with a birthday party for the octogenarian.   * “K1” is ‘fire radio speak’ for “appliance and crew responding to a callout”.   To see the article in K1 magazine click here

Members responded to a breakfast-time call to multi-vehicle accidents on Old North Road in rural Kumeu, the result of skids and slides caused by a diesel spill.   As many as six vehicles and a motorcycle were involved at several locations along the road and members assisted with traffic management while contractors applied absorbent to help mop up the spillage.   Police believe a vehicle travelled Old North Road earlier in the morning, the driver unaware he was dropping diesel, leaving a dangerous trail for about 10 kilometres.

Members Busy at Fire Field Camp
15 August 2010

One of the scenarios at the weekend Fire Field Camp

This weekend the Unit assisted organisers of the biennial Fire Field Camp held at Whangaparaoa under the auspices of the Auckland Districts Fire Brigades’ Sub-Association.   Volunteer fire-fighters from throughout greater Auckland attended two days of various exercises staged on closed Defence land at the end of the peninsula.   Hot fire fighting, extrication from simulated motor vehicle accidents and an improvised light aircraft crash were among the scenarios.   Members provided logistical support over the weekend and staffed the canteen, maintaining rehydration facilities at each of the exercises.

Fire Guts Henderson Emporium
11 August 2010

Flames consume the contents of Geoff's Emporium, Henderson

A 1am fire destroyed the contents of Geoff’s Emporium, a mixed-goods retailer on Lincoln Road, in a blaze which took fire-fighters several hours to control.   The shop, about 60 x 25 meters, had high shelving throughout and the flames raced through the stacked merchandise as well as breaking out the front of the building through glass windows.   Despite a 3rd alarm attendance with more than 15 appliances - including 3 aerials - members managed to keep Lincoln Road open to through traffic while fire-fighting continued.   Fire-fighters prevented flames spreading to an adjoining college and radiologist’s consulting rooms.   The blaze is being treated as suspicious.

The Unit Honours Jim Smith
7 August 2010

 

Members, past members and executives of the NZ Fire Service gathered socially to celebrate Jim Smith’s 16 years’ service as Officer-in-Charge of the Unit, 2 as acting-Divisional Officer and 14 as Chief Fire Officer.   Jim has been a member of the Unit for a total of 37 years and recently stepped down from the Chief’s position.   He continues as Station Officer.   Present Fire Police Chief, Glenn Teal, thanked Jim for his long devoted service – mentioning the progress the Unit enjoyed under his management, particularly 3 enduring aspects: the Unit’s own radio communication network, the introduction of dedicated urgent-response Fire Police vehicles and its reputation, nation-wide, as a can-do ready-response group of well-trained personnel assisting at a range of emergencies.   Jim Smith was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal in 2006.

Gas Leak: Evacuations, Roads Closed
31 July 2010

 

Businesses were evacuated and main roads closed this evening after a major gas leak outside Nissan’s premises on Roscommon Road, Clendon.   Two cars involved in a crash crossed, out-of-control, over the grass median into opposing traffic, one car demolishing a roadside gas installation, tearing off its pipes.   This released a high pressure jet of gas from a 50mm pipe with a continuous roar that was uneasy on the ears for 100 meters.   Members helped closed main roads in the vicinity, and then managed the traffic grid-lock that resulted.   Businesses nearby were closed until gas company engineers shut down the gas and declared the area safe.   Roscommon Road and surrounds were reopened once the vehicles were recovered.

Members of the Unit recently protected the scene and stood by watching as fire-fighters forced their way in to an armoured security vehicle to get at its contents. Unusual, but true - and it happened like this ... Fire Police were assisting with scene protection and road closures at an accident in Gillies Avenue, Epsom involving a bus, a car, a ute and an armoured security van.   Owners of the armoured van insisted its contents be transferred to another security van on site before the damaged one was towed away.   Trouble was its chassis had been twisted with the impact of the crash and keys no longer opened the door to release the cash.   Breaking and entering tools off Remuera’s appliance came in very handy.   While Fire Police surrounded the scene, fire-fighters soon had the money liberated and transferred to the other security vehicle.   A short time later all vehicles were removed and busy Gillies Avenue was reopened to all traffic.

This month’s issue of the New Zealand Fire Service magazine, fire&rescue, features an article ‘History repeats’ on the second major fire, mid-May, at the disused Southdown meat works.   The article says Auckland Fire Police made quick use of lessons learned in the similar major blaze at the same complex in December 2008.   The author then goes on to detail the Unit’s operations for more than 48 hours.   Counties-Manukau Area Commander, Kerry Gregory, is quoted ... “the operation was testament to teamwork and combined resources ...” How we saw Southdown #2, May 2010, click here and Southdown #1 Feb 2008 click here and to read the article in fire&rescue, with additional pictures, click here

Busy Period for Fire Police
25 July 2010

One of the serious road crashes attended: car vs tree, New Windsor Road, Avondale

Serious motor accidents ‘just kept on coming’ over the weekend - the Unit has now responded to five in as many days, capped off with a 3rd alarm callout to a church fire in Ellerslie.   The spate of road crashes began on Wednesday night when a young woman driver was killed in rural Waimauku.   Fire Police were no sooner clear of this incident when a car plunged off the Southern Motorway at Drury and members went on to assist emergency services there.   Early Saturday morning Fire Police assisted in Glendene where a car had collided with a speed camera support pole, severely trapping and injuring an occupant.   On Saturday night Fire Police attended a 7 vehicle, fatal, crash on Auckland’s Nor’ Western Motorway between Patiki Road and Te Atatu.   Today members again assisted police at Glendene again where, mid-morning, a pedestrian had been struck by a car, and before that call was over Fire Police were despatched to a car-versus-tree crash in New Windsor.   And, adding to the busy weekend, as members completed chores at that call they were redirected to assist colleagues at a 3rd Alarm fire in a church building in Ellerslie.   The blaze was quickly contained to part of the first floor.

Fire Police were tonight among emergency workers attending a 7 vehicle crash on Auckland’s Nor’ Western Motorway between Patiki Road and Te Atatu.   One person died in the accident which left 4 vehicles severely damaged, blocking all lanes on the motorway, with debris spread over nearly 100 meters.   Fire Police provided inner and outer cordons at the incident which caused the west-bound lanes to be closed for more than 3 hours.   Members also responded the Canteen vehicle to the scene.   It’s the 3rd serious motor vehicle accident that Fire Police have attended in as many days.

Members at the Drivers’ Challenge
27 June 2010

Chief Judge checks the course before competition starts

Members participated in, judged and supported this year’s Auckland Fire Brigades’ Sub-District Association’s Drivers Challenge held at RNZAF, Whenuapai in blustery weather.   4 members entered the competition, a similar number acted as judges and officials and even more helped with ‘essential services’, like refreshments.   For the first time in this event competitors were checked by an electronic device.   It records both reaction time and braking distance.   Duncan Milne of Laingholm Volunteer Fire Brigade won the event.

The weekend’s begun with members attending 3 serious motor accidents.   The first, late last night, involved an allegedly stolen car crashing into a house in Onehunga leaving one woman dead, 2 others injured.   The second accident occurred early this morning on Waterview Straight, Avondale, where three cars collided, one crashing through a brick fence, leaving four injured.   Help was not far away this afternoon when 2 cars and ute crashed on the intersection of Kingseat and Glenbrook Roads in South Auckland.   Local fire brigades, returning from an exercise at Glenbrook Steel Mill came across the accident which left several people trapped in vehicles, others being treated on the roadside, and the intersection littered with wreckage.   Two serious patients were airlifted to hospital by helicopter.   Members of the Unit, also en route from the Steel Mill, delayed their return home by several hours to assist with traffic management while police made their scene investigations.

Milestone in Unit Training
15 June 2010

Ladder drill, the first routine learned by the Unit's training assesors

A new-style structured training regime begins this week for the Unit.   It ensures each member revises current skills and learns new ones, thus obtaining core competencies now required for proficiency.   “The reason for the change is that it won’t be long before the Fire Service formally introduces its Training And Progression System (TAPS) for support personnel”, says Unit Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, “so, in anticipation, we are training now in the competencies we know will be part of the TAPS programme.   And because this is likely to be closely followed by the Operational Skills Maintenance programme, it’s our aim to have members trained and showing green lights (indicating proficiency) on OSM charts immediately they come on-line”.   The new training regime, which strictly follows NZFS instruction manuals, began by qualifying assessors so they can evaluate each member undertaking the training.

Queen’s Birthday holiday was interrupted for members, late afternoon, by a 4th Alarm response to Mangere East Primary School where fire was simultaneously racing through 2 buildings.   Fire police supported fire-fighters, assisted with traffic management, crowd control and other fireground duties until the flames were subdued when salvage operations began.   “We had 30 members fully engaged at the call for more than 4 hours” says Fire Police Chief Glenn Teal, “and there was a big effort with lighting to enable us to get on with an even bigger task: salvage of computers, books and teaching aids which had been affected by water, heat and smoke.   Hopefully the rescue of these resources will hasten the school’s recovery”.   Investigations into the cause of the fires have begun.

Southdown: Fire Fighting Ends
16 May 2010

Fire was weakening the derelict Southdown buildings ...

... and then the walls tumbled, debris venting the fire.

Fire fighting concluded early this evening at the derelict Southdown meatworks and associated buildings in South Auckland.   The Fire Service had been tackling the major blaze, and its aftermath, since Friday night using a number of aerial appliances, dozens of fire engines and hundreds of fire fighters, supported by a big team of workers including members of the Unit.   Decontamination processes were essential for all those firefighters who had worked within an area which had been declared a risk from chemicals.   The smouldering remains were considered extinguished mid-afternoon and then began the task of retrieving all Fire Service equipment, including kilometers of hose used to feed sufficient water to the fire engines on site.   The fire’s being treated as suspicious.

No Let-up at Southdown
15 May 2010

Fire Police Chief, Glenn Teal, in silhouette at Southdown

Four aerial appliances, a fleet of fire engines and a small army of firefighters are still dousing the major fire in the former Southdown meatworks.   Some of the buildings destroyed overnight are ones that escaped serious damage in the December 2008 fire in the same complex.   Today firefighters are tackling pockets of fire under rubble and twisted metal, the result when, at the height of the fire, part of the building collapsed.   At that stage flames, and columns of thick black smoke and embers, could be seen from most parts of Auckland, and as far away as Waiheke Island.   Indications are that road closures, long feeder hoses (twinned, taking water from hydrants more than a kilometre from the fire) and support services will remain in place while fire fighting continues all day and on into Sunday.

Major Blaze in South Auckland
14 May 2010

Southdown again: The towering flames could be seen all over Auckland, and beyond

A massive fire-fighting operation’s underway tonight in the Auckland suburb of Southdown where the old meatworks and associated premises are well alight.   At 5th Alarm status, it’s shaping to be the biggest fire in the city since flames raced through an adjacent range of buildings on the same site in December 2008.   The earlier fire was said to be the biggest in Auckland in many decades.   The Unit’s Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, tonight asked all available members to respond to the call to assist with traffic and crowd control, setting up support facilities, and fetching ancillary vehicles to the scene.   Members of the Silverdale Fire Police are supporting their Auckland colleagues.   “We are planning for the long haul”, says Glenn Teal, “it looks the same as last time’s spectacular and stubborn fire ... firefighters were here for days and we kept up our support for them then, and we’re planning for a repeat.”

Most activities at Auckland Airport’s International Terminal came to an abrupt end this evening when a gas leak forced evacuation of most of the building and closed all roads leading to the building as well as the car park.   Members responded to Mangere when an emergency was declared about five o’ clock.   A gas main had been ruptured by a contractor’s digger on the construction site of a new hotel, just meters from the main terminal building.   The airport’s international operations were curtailed for an hour and a half until the Fire Service and gas company staff made the pipe safe and the fumes had dispersed.   Some overseas flights were delayed.

Auckland Fire Police Revisit Tamahere
22 April 2010

Recording the Fire Service's thanks to a community: the plaque at Tamahere

Members of Auckland Fire Police were among Government, Local Body, Fire Service and Community representatives who attended the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and tree at Tamahere in Waikato, scene of the Icepak cool-store explosion and fire two years ago.   The ceremony, the plaque and tree were the New Zealand Fire Service’s way of thanking the people of Tamahere community who, despite risks to themselves, went to the aid of firefighters killed and injured in the explosion and fire.   Auckland Fire Police attended in its regional support vehicle: ours was the furthest responding appliance.   Our members worked overnight side-by-side with the Tamahere community, supporting fire-fighters from throughout Waikato, and beyond, as they battled the major fire which claimed the life of Hamilton’s Senior Station Officer, Derek Lovell.   The dedication of the plaque and tree was attended by many dignitaries including the Governor- General, Sir Anand Satyanand, Minister of Internal Affairs, Nathan Guy, Chairperson of the NZ Fire Service Commission, Dame Margaret Bazley and NZFS National Commander, Mike Hall.

Station Officer Bay is now Bishop Ross
17 April 2010

Bishop Ross Bay about to strike the Cathedral doors, part of his installation as Bishop of Auckland

One of our members, Station Officer Ross Bay, is now Anglican Bishop of Auckland following his ordination and installation this afternoon.   The Unit was well represented in the packed congregation at Holy Trinity Cathedral and members were among the first to congratulate the new bishop after the service.   The Very Reverend Ross Bay is 11th Bishop of Auckland, the largest diocese in New Zealand, stretching from North Cape to Waikato.   Immediately following his ordination, Bishop Ross was welcomed by the cathedral community in the service of installation.   This began with Ross following the ancient tradition of knocking three times with his pastoral staff on the closed doors of the Cathedral.   He gave the doors a good rapping with the 120 year old staff: those inside could not but respond, the huge doors were swung open, welcoming Ross to the cathedral, and to the Bishop’s chair, a sign of his office.

Members answered a breakfast-time callout to assist at the high-rise downtown office block which was suffering severe water damage.   First fire crews on the scene in Shortland Street saw water pouring out windows and guessed there was major flooding in the AXA building.   Sometime over the weekend a water pipe had burst on the 7th storey, causing water to cascade down the stairway, through lift shafts, ducts and ceilings, affecting all lower floors.   Fire-fighters stemmed the flow, effected first-line salvage and then left it to the building’s owners to arrange the massive cleanup.

Big Training Weekend
28 March 2010

DCFO Ric Carlyon (Auckland) briefs course members on point duty


Student trainers prepare for a Stop-Go traffic exercise

It’s been a weekend of training for Fire Police and Operational Support people.   First there was a “Train the Trainer” course at the Fire Service’s Mt Wellington Campus, organised by NZFS Training in Wellington, for personnel from many parts of New Zealand.   They were shown techniques for teaching the basic content of their new Training and Progression System (TAPS).   3 members of Auckland Fire Police were on the weekend-long course, while some other members from the Unit assisted with teaching and exercises.   The second training event was a local affair for our own newer members, concentrating on learning basic water-way equipment with elementary routines.   “New nation-wide targets are about to be introduced for training”, the Unit’s Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, says “so these courses are a flying start towards having all our members fully qualified within the deadlines set”.

Members closed busy main thoroughfares during this morning’s gas leak alert near the Medical School in Grafton.   The Fire Service ordered all roads in the vicinity closed in case vehicles’ electrical systems ignited the escaped gas.   Fire Police put in road blocks over a wide area surrounding the Medical School.   “Unfortunately these road closures also affected the main entrance to Auckland Hospital, right opposite the School, and we had to turn away out-patients with appointments, those visiting patients, doctors and hospital staff”, says Fire Police Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Ric Carlyon, who was on the scene.   “It was all we could do to keep traffic moving in the suburb and we used Grafton Bridge as an additional outlet during the traffic emergency: it’s usually closed to private cars during the day.   While buses were diverted, fortunately ambulances taking urgent cases to the hospital had alternative access beyond the no-go zone”.   The emergency lasted nearly 2 hours until the leak was contained and the gas dispersed.

2nd Alarm Paint Factory Fire
10 March 2010

March's wintry look in Mt Wellington with the temperature (plus) 28 degrees C!

Although it was one of the hottest days of the summer, onlookers at a South Auckland factory fire this afternoon could be excused for seeing snow at the scene.   It was, in fact, a deep carpet of white foam cascading from the Mt Wellington building, the result of fire-fighters’ operations to quell a small blaze in the chemical factory.   One person was taken to hospital, injured in the fire.   Firefighters created a bund around the premises to contain run-off from the fire in case it was contaminated.

Turnout to Northern Bush Fire
7 March 2010

Today's 3rd Alarm (plus helicopter) bush fire

Auckland Fire Police responded north today to assist at a large bush fire beside State Highway 1 in Dome Valley between Wellsford and Warkworth.   The busy road was closed to enable firefighting operations by both Fire Service and Rural crews.   Fire raced up steep territory and burned out of control until a helicopter arrived to help fire-fighters with an aerial attack.   Members assisted with scene protection and security, helped marshal fire trucks and equipment to enable the highway to be reopened and augmented cold drinks being dispensed by Silverdale Fire Police.

The Unit has a new Chief Fire Officer from today.   CFO Glenn Teal, a member of Auckland Fire Police for 30 years, the last 15 as Deputy Chief, takes over leadership from former Chief, Jim Smith, who has stepped down from the top position.   “I look forward to managing the country’s biggest and busiest volunteer brigade, particularly in the light of recently-signalled changes to Fire Police,” says Glenn, “but we are in good shape to meet these challenges with assured support from all our Members who want to continue contributing voluntary services to our community”.   Ric Carlyon is appointed the Unit’s new Deputy Chief Fire Officer.   Numerous tributes were paid to Jim Smith at his last Unit meeting as Chief, recalling the Unit’s progress during his term and thanking him for his service.   He continues in the Unit as Station Officer.

Members responded in the early hours this morning, answering a request for the Unit’s Canteen in Waikato.   Emergency services were attending a serious crash on State Highway 1 near Rangiriri where a truck had veered off the road, smashed through a barrier and caught fire.   The driver died in the accident.   The highway was closed as police carried out on-site investigations into the crash and while experts identified liquid, potentially hazardous, which had spilled from drums carried on the truck.   The canteen provided emergency teams with food and drinks throughout the night.   “This is one of our Southern-most calls” says Fire Police Acting-Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, “and the Unit’s always pleased to respond and provide resources when called upon”.

The number of incidents fire-fighters turned out to early this afternoon may be something of a record: they were at 8 different incidents at the same time, spread right across Greater Auckland.   Members responded to 2 in the string of calls, first assisting at a major fire in two storey house in Blackbridge Road, Karaka in Franklin and they were still there when the sudden burst of calls began about 1320 hrs - twenty minutes past one.   The first was to a vessel on fire in Westhaven Marina (which Fire Police also responded to) where fire-fighters quickly contained the on-board blaze.   Other calls in quick succession (and attended by the Fire Service simultaneously) were in Ponsonby, Mt Albert, Avondale, Silverdale, Whenuapai and in Kelston.   Some were false alarms: none of these proved serious.

Tree - mendous Call!
21 January 2010

Cars went under and around the fallen tree ...


... but buses and trucks had to go on the wrong side of the road

Today’s call-out was to Pah Road, Epsom, near Seymour Park.   The reserve has a line of towering trees along its street frontage and a major lower limb had crashed over the busy road causing a danger to passing traffic and a bottleneck for morning commuters.   Pah Road is an arterial route, the preferred road between the city and the airport so traffic rapidly built up.   It’s thought the limb splintered and crashed under the weight of saturating water from early morning heavy rain, the first in Auckland for some weeks.   Fire Police managed traffic, including a diversion for trucks and buses, until tree-fellers arrived with chain saws to clear fallen branches.

Tonight’s fierce fire that raced through an Ellerslie factory escalated to a 4th Alarm and took the best part of an hour before fire-fighters got the better of it.   Hunter Haines’ made fibreglass pleasure craft in the large 2 storied building which quickly became engulfed in fire and was gutted by the blaze.   A “Hazardous Materials” warning went out to all members responding to the call and two Fire Police whose duties took them inside the Hot Zone were among personnel decontaminated at the scene as a precaution.   Ironically there were more than a dozen elevated platforms on hand: the company next door to the burning building is a hire company specialising in cherry pickers.   The Fire Service, however, stuck with its own 3 aerial appliances to fight the fire!

Members responded to a call for help from Police earlier today on the Southern Motorway near the Otahuhu Off Ramp.   Investigations were underway there after a dual wheel assembly had parted company from a truck-and-trailer’s tractor unit and, for a short time, was loose on the motorway, bouncing between vehicles.   It then bowled into the front of a bus, smashing through the windscreen, entering the coach.   The wheels missed the driver but hit several passengers, one of whom was critically injured.   Parts of the motorway system were closed as police made their scene examination.

Busy New Year Continues
8 January 2010

No doubt about the location of today's 3rd Alarm fire at St Lukes

The Unit’s busy, and varied, first week of the New Year is continuing.   In the early hours of today there was call to a student lodge in Galatos Street, Newton, but damage was confined to one room.   Then at about half past ten there was a blaze in a warehouse/showroom complex at St Lukes which quickly escalated to a third alarm.   The factory was situated at the end of a cul de sac, Wagener Place, opposite one of the main entrances to St Lukes Mall.   Members closed the no-exit road, denying access for several hours to retail shops, light industrial premises and 3 child care facilities.   Other Fire Police assisted at the command unit, kept access-ways clear for further responding appliances and staffed the canteen, providing refreshments.   The fire, which gutted most of the building occupied by architectural lighting experts, is classed as suspicious.

2010 Starts With Varied Call-outs
7 January 2010

Today’s second-alarm response in downtown Auckland capped a series of diverse calls in the first week to begin the New Year.   This afternoon’s suspicious fire, in Fort Street, was on the top floor of a two storey block, seriously damaging a massage parlour there and causing heat, smoke and water damage to a downstairs restaurant and a basement internet cafe.   Members closed off surrounding roads and several car parks in the busy central business district to enable fire-fighting operations.   Today’s call-out adds to the variety of other calls this week... a bush fire, 6 house fires (several with persons reported), a motor vehicle accident, and a fire following an explosion and fireball above restaurants on Prince’s Wharf.

Each year in the decade known as the "Noughties", Auckland Fire Police responded to more than 600 working calls, average, in our growing fleet of vehicles, increasing from one van in 2000 to three urgent response vehicles with the old Ford canteen replaced by a brand new Iveco, the addition of the ablutions trailer and added oversight of the Communications Caravan.   In 2001 we celebrated International Year of the Volunteer: the Unit received a unique goodwill message from the Secretary-General of the UN while each serving member received a special medal.   In July 2003 occurred the busiest night, (probably ever), for the Fire Service in Auckland with no fewer than 13 fires in various downtown buildings, some Greater-Alarms, one fatal.   In mid-decade Unit members joined the Intranet and SMS from home PCs, linking us to the Fire Service data bases.   Two members, CFO Jim Smith and SO Ric Carlyon were honoured in the 2006 Queen's Birthday list, the first in the Unit to be recognised in this way.   In 2008 we celebrated our 75th Anniversary, that year ending with Auckland's biggest fire in living memory at the former Southdown meat works.   Fire Police also contributed to wider activities during the decade... some members trained as NZFS regional radio operators, we participated in the process towards proposed (but aborted) fire service legislation, we took the Canteen to assist at the tragic Tamahere fire in Waikato, members provided invaluable help at the 2006 UFBA Conference at Sky City, we travelled to Rotorua to help train counterparts there, CFO Jim Smith was President of the Fire Brigades' District Sub-Association, Fire Policeman Russell Allen presided over the Auckland Provincial Association of Fire Brigades while SO Ric Carlyon serves on the UFBA Board of Directors.   And Unit officers contributed to the formulation of an NZFS training programme for Fire Police, the first designed for nation-wide implementation.   We farewelled 3 long-serving members during the decade - SO Alan Baldick (36 years' service, 30 as Unit Secretary), SO Peter McGeachen (32) and FPC Grant Wilson (31).   The Noughties end with one of our number, SO Bay elected to be Anglican Bishop of Auckland and, on the horizon, constitutional changes forecast so that the Unit complies with new legislation.

Chief Fire Officer Jim Smith, the officers and members of the Unit wish all our friends on the internet a very merry Christmas, happy holidays and a safe New Year.

New Bishop: Fire Policeman Appointed
6 December 2009

Member of the Auckland Volunteer Fire Police Unit, Station Officer Ross Bay, has been elected the 11th Anglican Bishop of Auckland, overseeing the church's activities in the largest Anglican Diocese in New Zealand.   His new position takes effect in March. It's just 2 years since the Very Reverend Ross Bay was ordained Dean of Auckland and in that time his colleagues at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell have become quite used to him responding to calls, sharing his time with our volunteer fire unit.   "Ross has been a popular member and regular attender at all kinds of emergencies since he joined Fire Police more than 20 years ago" says the Unit's Chief Fire Officer, Jim Smith.   "He's also one of our Training Officers.   I am certain all members of the Unit, and the wider fire service community, will join others wishing Ross well in his new position".

Major Avondale Blaze
3 December 2009

Fire Police maintain road closures around the blaze

Members were engaged for nearly 5 hours at tonight's fire in Avondale which ripped through a block of premises occupied by 5 businesses: destroying some, badly damaging others.   Top priority for Fire Police was traffic management at the busy Great North Road/St George Street roundabout to enable Greater Alarm fire appliances, 2 ambulances and other emergency services to get access to the scene.   In the interests of public safety and to relieve traffic tailbacks through New Lynn, members also closed Great North Road at Portage Road, more than a kilometre from the fire, diverting motorists around the fireground and away from smoke and fumes.   The busy arterial route, Great North Road, was closed all evening, reopening just before midnight.   Several residential streets in the vicinity were also closed.   Fire Police, as well as other fireground duties, reviewed and maintained inner cordons when it was advised the cause of the fire was suspicious.

The Unit is pleased to have contributed to the process behind today's announcement that the New Zealand Fire Service has been awarded Silver in the prestigious Business Excellence Awards.

The Unit was proud to have been one of a few selected volunteer brigades to participate in assessment processes.   4 years ago the Fire Service won Bronze.   Welcoming today's Silver Award, National Commander Mike Hall says it shows the Service is at the forefront of business and organisation practice, judged by independent evaluators to international standards.   "Notwithstanding this world class result" says Mr Hall, "we are committed to introducing further improvements".

The Unit's joining other emergency services and community groups this Sunday, 22nd November, for an Open Day being held at the TelstraClear Stadium, Great South Road, Manukau.   The Fire Service, along with Police and St John Ambulance, will spearhead emergency services' working displays and exhibits to give visitors an opportunity to see, first hand, latest equipment, rescue techniques and helicopter operations.   Civil Defence and Armed Services will also be on display, plus local community organisations.   The hours for the Open Day are 10am - 4pm.   Admission and car parking is free.

Major Fire at Mt Wellington
17 November 2009

Fire destroyed every part of the warehouse, inside and out

This evening's 4th Alarm blaze in Mt Wellington consumed, entirely, the warehouse premises belonging to Corporate Consumables, suppliers of office and IT consumables.   Fire swept through the two-storey building in Fisher Crescent leaving stock and furnishings destroyed, the roof collapsed and outer walls bulging.   22 members of the Unit were deployed on multiple tasks during the fire, which began soon after 4pm.   The timing meant Fire Police managed traffic during the busy evening peak hour, congestion exacerbated by the limited access in and out of the industrial area.

Rescue at House Fire
9 November 2009

Avondale house fire, scene of today's rescue

Members assisted at a house fire in Avondale this morning where an occupant was rescued by his neighbour.   Les Redshaw saw smoke and flames coming from the house next door... "and then there was a loud bang inside, quite an explosion".   Mr Redshaw investigated, saw a man in the blazing house and went in to get him out.   "His hair was burning so I snuffed that out, got him outside and rolled him in the grass to extinguish his clothing which was also on fire".   The patient was taken to hospital by ambulance.   Fire-fighters soon got the better of the flames but not before they severely damaged front rooms.

Accident: Piha Road Closed, Power Cut
31 October 2009

The power pole, with special equipment on top to regulate supply to Piha, fell right across the road

It was neither Trick nor Treat for Piha residents wanting to return home on Halloween Night - it was just plain bad news.   Auckland Fire Police assisted Waiatarua counterparts to close the only road in and out of the West Coast beach community for nearly five hours following a road accident in which a car left the road, took out a power pole and all but disappeared over the side into bush.   Although 4 occupants weren't badly injured, the pole fell across the road, live power lines still attached, and cooling oil from a pole-top regulator spilled on the road.   Day trippers wanting to return to the city, and Piha residents going home, queued either side of the closure waiting for the road to re-open.   Fire Police made special arrangements to get medication to two families and for a passenger en route to the airport to take an overseas flight.   Power was cut to Piha and districts for several hours while linemen made repairs.

Auckland Fire Police have recently studied for, and attained the New Zealand Transport Agency's Traffic Controller's qualification.   46 of the Unit's members have now completed and passed the course, all competent in the Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Control.   Managing traffic at the scene of emergencies is one of the most frequent tasks Auckland Fire Police are engaged in and their qualification is a useful benchmark measuring proficiency towards achieving industry best practice.   Chief Fire Officer, Jim Smith, congratulating members, says the qualifications will give them advantage when the new Training and Progression System (TAPS) is introduced for Fire Police: traffic management is likely to be one of the core competencies required.

Long-Serving Member Farewelled
19 October 2009

Chief Fire Officer Jim Smith presents departing member Grant Wilson with the Fire Service's gratuity

Members have farewelled FPC Grant Wilson who served the Unit, and his community, for 31 years having joined in May 1978 when Unit meetings were held at Balmoral Station.   That first gathering was punctuated with protest and vigorous objection to NZFS plans that Fire Police would swap Chieftain fire helmets for Mitre10 construction-site hats. (The argument was later resolved in favour of the Auckland Unit and Fire Police everywhere.)
"There were only about 20 members then" Grant says "and Fire Police had just taken over care of the Bedford Canteen.   Of fires I attended, undoubtedly the biggest and most dramatic was Vita Foam 1, Rosebank Road, where it was said that you could read your newspaper in Point Chev by the glow in the sky!" Other notable blazes were Vita Foam 2, Avondale College, Otara Rendell's Store and McCorkindales Hardware in New Lynn.   Most traumatic call was an accident in Ponsonby Rd in the early 80's when 4 young people were killed after the car they were in became airborne over Newton Road/Great North Road intersection and hit a tree.
"My proudest moment was in 2004 receiving the coveted Gold Star for 25 years' service and the Unit's Life Honorary Membership".   Fittingly, during tonight's Unit meeting - the last he will attend - Grant was presented with a third Bar for his Gold Star medal, signifying 31 years' service.

A children's clothing shop, Sunny Zone, was destroyed by this morning's fire in Clendon shopping centre, South Auckland.   It was a second alarm. The blaze ripped through the corner shop consuming everything within the premises and threatened to spread to the next door 123 Dollar store.   Fire fighters' timely arrival meant they knocked back the flames, confining the fire to Sunny Zone.   Being school holidays, large numbers gathered to watch the action: members carried out crowd control and provided re-hydrating refreshments.   A man was treated for smoke inhalation: he had tried to extinguish the fire in its early stages using a hose-reel before he was forced to evacuate.

Members joined an overnight search for 2 year old, Asiling Symes, missing from her home in Henderson.   20 members volunteered, reporting to police who were coordinating the search, and were immediately assigned door-knocking duties in streets surrounding Longburn Road.   Teams of 3 worked in wet, cold conditions and found some residents reluctant to leave their warm beds to answer the late-night callers, but searches were made of all gardens, garages and out-buildings.   Operations were wound down in the early hours, but a large contingent resumed searching at first light.

Tricky Rescue: Two Injured
27 September 2009

Extrication of 2 injured occupants from the wrecked sports car beside Wairau Creek

Fire Police assisted at the scene of a two-car accident tonight in Tristram Avenue, Wairau Valley, near the motorway interchange where 2 people were being extricated from the wreckage of one of the vehicles, a sports car.   It ran up and over an embankment, plummeting down the other side to the bed of the Wairau Creek.   Fortunately the wrecked car containing the two people stopped just short of the water.   Members closed Croftfield Lane and the northbound access to the motorway for a time until the patients were taken to hospital and the car recovered.

Veteran Fire Policeman Retires
22 September 2009

SO Baldick receiving a Fire Service Plaque from the Unit's Patron, David Neil

Today is Station Officer Alan Baldick's last day in the Unit having served 36 years.   About 12 months ago Alan gave notice that he'd like to retire, ending not just his long association with the Unit, but his position as Secretary which he had held for 30 years.   Alan was also for many years Officer in Charge of the mobile canteen, over the decades overseeing the old Bedford, the Ford and now the Iveco.   At the Unit's Annual General Meeting last night many tributes were paid to Alan's long service, meticulous attention to detail in all things and his cheerful personality.   He was presented with his final two year Gold Bar, a suitably-engraved Fire Service plaque and other gifts.   Alan says he will keep up his interest in the Unit through his Life Honorary Membership.   For the record, Alan joined on 17th December 1973 and left on 22 September 2009. He was Unit Secretary from mid-1975 until mid-1987 and from mid-1992 to 22 September 2009.
FPC Jackie Watson has been elected the new Unit Secretary; SO Duane Carnell has taken over supervision of the Canteen.

The Unit's Chief Fire Officer, giving his annual report, says it's been another very successful year with Members fulfilling, (and in many cases exceeding), the Unit's Annual Plan.   Jim Smith, addressing the Unit's 76th Annual General Meeting tonight said the Unit was called out to 614 calls in the July-year and members responded to them all, no matter what time of the day or night.   "We assisted brigades at a wide range of incidents across the region, from Wellsford in the North to Onewhero in the South, from Piha in the West to Mangitangi in the South-East".   Chief Smith also reported that the Unit had more than fulfilled training and fire safety promotion targets, had successfully completed special projects and that the end-of-year financial report was very satisfactory.

Fallen Fire-fighters Remembered
11 September 2009

Some of the fire crews being briefed

Members assisted at the inaugural Fire-fighters' Memorial Day held in Auckland to coincide with the 8th anniversary of New York's 9/11 tragedy.   Fire services personnel from as far away as Kamo (Whangarei) and Lower Hutt took part in a stair-climb in the high-rise BNZ building to mark the event.   But before the climb, the Roll of Honour was called, the names of New Zealand brigadesmen who have died during fire-fighting operations.   Prayers led by the Dean of Auckland, the Very Reverend Ross Bay who is also a Station Officer in our Unit.   Participants, some carrying breathing apparatus, hose-lines or other equipment, then set off up the stairs to the 32nd floor, some 106 meters above street level.   Organisers hope to make the memorial and annual event, marked in one way or another, to remember fallen fellow fire-fighters.

Members responded to an unusual structure fire this evening, a third alarm alert to a big tent on fire at Mount Smart Stadium.   The 15,000 seat "Super Top" is used for pop concerts, and other entertainment, and has in the past hosted the likes of Bon Jovi, UB40 and Foo Fighters.   But it was fire-fighters who starred tonight, quickly extinguishing a blaze in the under-stage area preventing it spreading to the giant PVC structure.   Fire Police helped seal off roads in the vicinity and assisted with usual fireground duties.   Fortunately, no live show was scheduled this evening.
Footnote: 168 died, more than 700 injured, when a circus big-top caught fire in Hartford, Connecticut, during the afternoon performance, 6th July 1944. Originally a small blaze which quickly enveloped the tent, flames were fed by a flammable paraffin-petrol mixture which had been painted on the canvas to help make it waterproof. The flaming canvas fell on the audience, trapped because of blocked emergency exits. Although an unbalanced man was jailed for arson, including that of the circus tent, his involvement, the culpability of 5 others who were also jailed and the real cause, was never proven.

Nigel Hohaia: Prizewinner!
1 September 2009

Auckland Fire Policeman Nigel Hohaia was runner-up, overall, at the weekend's National Drivers' Challenge at Manfeild.   48 Fire Service competitors from throughout New Zealand took part in the multi-discipline driving challenge, organised by the United Fire Brigades' Association.   "I thought I had done well as the day wore on" says Nigel, "it seemed a better effort than last time, but I didn't get my hopes up, you can't tell until you've completed all the tasks.   And then I had a long wait to see where I would be placed because I was the second to last competitor to compete in the final event.   But when it was later announced I had come second in the Challenge, overall, it was a bit overwhelming."   "The placing is the best achievement yet by any of our members competing in a nation-wide event" says Auckland Fire Police's Chief Fire Officer, Jim Smith "so it's a landmark reflecting the high standards our Unit aspires to ... and obviously reaches competing in the national arena.   Congratulations, Nigel."

Week of Variety for Members
30 August 2009

A serious house fire in Mangere this afternoon added to the wide variety of calls attended by the Unit this week.   On Wednesday morning Fire Police responded to a kilometre-long diesel spillage along Great North Road in Glendene and then that night members helped at a fire on the 17th floor of an apartment block in Gore Street, City.   Duties included looking after a man who fell down stairs during evacuation, injuring his shoulder.   Members also closed downtown roads during the second-alarm fire which was dealt with during one of the most spectacular electrical storms Auckland has seen for some time.   On Thursday night Fire Police closed Ayr Street, Parnell, after a road accident brought down a power pole and wires.   Members carried out point duty for some 3 hours, assisting motorists through the busy evening commuter peak.   On Saturday afternoon there was a call to a light aircraft crash near Drury and then a later response to a road accident, car over a bank, on Scenic Drive, Swanson.   This afternoon's Mangere house fire destroyed front rooms and a car in an adjacent carport.   And as well as these calls there have been other road accidents and fire calls to keep the Unit busy!

An early-morning blaze in a timber merchant's yard in Mangere East turned out to be a lengthy job for Members who responded to the Second Alarm alert.   Stacks of timber were on fire within an enclosed yard some distance from the road, with fire showing up well as first firefighting crews arrived around 1am.   Members assisted police to secure the scene, including road closures blocking off Savill Drive shopping areas.   On the fireground Fire Police tasks included setting up lighting and providing refreshments - welcomed because all firefighters at the fire-front wore breathing apparatus in the thick, swirling smoke.   At one stage it was so dense, and drifting towards Middlemore, that hospital authorities were advised as a precaution.   Essential feeders (sole water supply for firefighting) across Savill Drive, meant members had to retain road closures for nearly 4 hours.

The Unit has 2 new Station Officers.   Duane Carnell and Richard Cuthbert have been promoted to their new rank and were presented with insignia by Auckland Fire Police Chief, Jim Smith, at the Unit's monthly meeting.   Congratulating the pair, Jim Smith said both Duane and Richard had submitted thoughtful applications and stood out during rigorous interviews.   The Chief wished them well in their new positions, saying he looks forward to their future service in the Unit as officers, building on their hard work to date.

It was déjà-vu for Fire Police attending the long-duration fire high up in the Waitakere Ranges: they had been to a major blaze on the same property, Gordon's Nursery, some years before.   That was also a third alarm and involved the same rambling collection of sheds and out-buildings, some used as living quarters, at the end of a long driveway.   Unit members, assisted by their Titirangi counterparts, were at the scene, overnight, for more than 10hours, one of the longest jobs this year.   The narrow, winding Scenic Drive was soon blocked by all the attending appliances so Fire Police closed it.   Later, to assist morning commuter traffic, vehicles were managed over hose ramps. Fortunately Gordon's Nursery is within a reticulated area.   This provided fire-fighters with water supplies to tackle the big blaze, yet ground monitors were still putting out stubborn pockets of fire some 9 hours after the fire fight had begun.   Police, assisted by Fire Service personnel, are investigating the cause.

3rd Alarm Destroys Boats
21 June 2009

At the height of the blaze there were several explosions, fed by fuel, chemicals and paints stored in the boatyard


Vintage ferryboat Tawa II. Survived years of storms in the Hauraki Gulf: went down in today's shipyard fire

Members responding to a mid-morning fire in Henderson were in no doubt where to head for ... the large column of thick black smoke could be seen from the city.   A boat repair yard was ablaze, destroying a shed and, alongside, various craft jacked up on stands awaiting service.   The business also de-bugs boats' diesel tanks, so there was plenty of flammable material, chemicals and liquids to fuel the flames which resulted in 3rd Alarm response.   Among the boats destroyed or damaged were yachts, launches and one of Auckland's smaller harbour ferries, the 90 year old Tawa II, which the boat yard's owner said he was restoring before passing it to public ownership.   But the stands under the hull collapsed at one stage of the fire, tipping the hull on its side.   The owner says the damage to Tawa II looks as if it's beyond repair.

Members have celebrated their contribution to the community during this, Volunteer Awareness Week, with a social function held after the monthly meeting which was attended by New Zealand Fire Service executives to mark the event.   CFO Brian Edwards thanked the Unit for its ongoing assistance at the numerous emergencies members attend.   He welcomed public acknowledgment of the Unit's contribution in an article and photo that appeared in a local newspaper, coinciding with the special week when volunteers' efforts, everywhere, are recognised.   So far, in the year ending at the end of the month, we have responded to more than 570 working calls with a "bulge" in the total hours contributed, reflecting the massive 652 person-hours our members put in during 3 days' fire-fighting operations last December at the multiple-alarm blaze in the former Southdown meat works.   Read the article on stuff.co.nz here

Sandringham Chemical Incident
6 June 2009

Firefighter being decontaminated after working within the cordon at the hazardous substance alert in Sandringham

Members of the Unit sealed off a section of Grove Road and managed Sandringham Road traffic today after an explosion which left one man with burns.   He was one of the contractors collecting roadside inorganic waste when a container discharged chemicals.   He was taken to hospital by St John.   The resulting hazardous material alert necessitated isolating the scene which meant a road closure and establishing decontamination measures.   These activities, equivalent to Second Alarm response, spilled out on to busy Sandringham Road where members ensured traffic was managed safely around the scene.   Police were determining how the substance came to be put out on the footpath for collection.   While the Unit was assisting at this two and a half hour emergency, southern members responded to Whitford - Maraetai Road where a car had crashed into a pole bringing down power wires.

New St John Ambulance station
1 June 2009

Dion Rosario (second from left) chatting with staff outside the new Mt Roskill Ambulance Station.

It's an "inside job" for Auckland Fire Police when it comes to St John's new ambulance station in Mt Roskill.   One of our members, Dion Rosario, is Operations Team Leader overseeing staff and resources stationed in the new, Clinker Street, premises.   St John has, to date, served the district working out of temporary, portable offices in the yard of the Mt Roskill Fire Station in Mt Albert Road, but with fire operations soon moving to a new station, St John decided it was time to find their own alternative headquarters.   Their new Station 45 houses 2 ambulances, one crewed 24 hours, the other 9am - 9pm and has sleeping quarters, a lounge, kitchen and an enclosed staff car park.   Clinker Street, in the semi-industrial area off Carr Road, gives ambulances good access both East and West when responding to emergencies via the new motorway extension, SH20, with connecting interchanges nearby.

New Mt Roskill station
29 May 2009

It's almost time for fire-fighters to make the move from their old station in Mt Albert Road to new premises in Dominion Road Extension.   The single-bay station is in the shadow of the hill that gives the station - and suburb - its name, Mt Roskill, it's near the motorway access giving access to/from SH20 and is situated a couple of kilometres south-west of the old station that served the district for 80 years.   Planning the new station's been underway for some time when it was realised that the old one was inadequate, and, lately, when its front doors were too small to allow access to modern, large fire appliances.   The new station has already been given spiritual blessings and crews will occupy their new headquarters, all going well, within a week or two.   There will be an official opening later.

Mt Roskill Fire Station Closes
27 May 2009

Mt Roskill Volunteers snapped soon after their station opened, aboard their Dennis appliance. There's a glimpse of the old church next door (and a camera-shy fireman!)

The Mt Roskill fire station today with 621 parked alongside

Auckland's Mt Roskill Fire Station's days are numbered: fire-fighters will soon be moving to their brand new headquarters.   The present station, fronting Mt Albert Road, has served the district for 80 years, opened in 1929 soon after formation of the Mt Roskill Fire Board which set up a fire brigade with a paid Superintendent, 17 volunteer personnel and a new 1927 solid-tyred Dennis appliance.   The brigade became part of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board in 1933: Auckland Fire Police have supported the duty crews ever since.   A church next door to the station was removed in later years to extend the station yard on the Eastern boundary - just as well, because in recent times there've been difficulties housing larger, modern appliances in the old station and they've "lived" in, and responded from, the yard.   It also provided space for temporary offices for St John which in recent years stationed an ambulance on site.   Press clippings from 1928 illustrate the early times: "Fire destroyed the five bedroomed house near Richardson Road last night: there are no telephones in the area and for lack of this convenience, Mt Roskill Fire Brigade was not called" and "Mt Roskill Fire Brigade was called to the house on fire in White Swan Road but, despite making a fast run over very rough (unsealed!) roads, nothing could be done when they reached the scene - the dwelling was destroyed".
Finally, somewhat isolated in the outer suburbs as it was then, Mt Roskill Brigade was on its own in the late 1920's ... "The 3 storeyed block of wooden flats, some 16 rooms altogether, were totally involved and Mt Roskill firemen, who said it was the biggest fire yet in the District, had streams of water playing on the flames from hydrants in Selwyn Street some 600 feet (200 meters) away.   Remuera and Parnell brigades answered the call but returned to their stations when they found the fire was not within their districts".

The new Auckland "Super City" will ultimately affect the Unit's activities, particularly where urban areas merge with rural, and beyond.   The Minister of Internal Affairs says that among many other aspects of local government, there'll be big changes to rural fire administration.   Dr Richard North told a meeting of representatives of Auckland fire brigades, including 3 who attended from the Unit, that the new City Council will be the sole rural fire authority across greater Auckland.   And the Minister says it will be tasked with determining rural fire risks and planning rural fire-fighting responses for the whole of the new "Super City" once boundaries are decided.   Auckland Fire Region Manager, Brian Butt, also foreshadowed change when he told the meeting that the Fire Service must keep abreast of decisions made as the new city evolves, ready to react to meet new or different community needs.   "These important matters", he said, "have been added to the to-do list for the next 18 months or so".

Some of our members attended, probably without precedent, 3 separate fatal motor vehicle accidents over a weekend, "Anzac" weekend, a black period on New Zealand roads with 14 deaths between Friday afternoon and Monday morning.   The 3 attended by our members were in Western districts, two were in rural areas at Waitakere Road, Taupaki (early hours of Saturday - Anzac Day) where a car hit a power pole and on State Highway 16 at Whenuapai (Sunday evening) where 3 cars collided.   The third call was in urban Lynwood Rd, New Lynn where a car crashed into a roadside tree (Anzac Day evening).   Members provided various services for some hours at all incidents, including road closures - in the case of the crash on busy State Highway 16, the road-blocks were maintained a couple of kilometres apart, at Brighams Creek Road and the Riverhead/Coatesville Highway.   The Unit was also called to help with traffic control at another motor accident on Anzac Day, in Milford, where debris was spread almost a block along one of the North Shore's busy roads, Kitchener Road.   And as usual on Anzac Day morning, members assisted at 8 events in Manukau City, providing traffic management for ceremonial marches and memorial services.

A house fire at Massey in Auckland's western suburbs was the Unit's 500th call for the 'official' July-June year.   The single storey house was well alight, prompting multiple 111 calls to the Fire Service just after 8am, Tuesday.   Members responded and found busy Royal Road partially blocked by operations.   A false centre line was established with cones and, using just half the road, Fire Police ran one lane of traffic in both directions.   Fire-fighters contained fire damage to one end of the house.

Two Members were a little late for last night's regular monthly meeting of the Unit, and though nothing was said at the time, the rather remarkable reasons for their lateness have surfaced today.   Members Duane Carnell and Anthony McVeigh were travelling together to the meeting from Western suburbs when, as they crossed the motorway overbridge at Lincoln Road, Anthony spotted a man on the ledge outside the rails, crouching as if to jump into traffic travelling on the motorway lanes below.   Fulton Hogan workers had also seen the man, but were pleased when help arrived in the form of the uniformed Duane and Anthony.   Duane immediately went up to the man, found him obviously distressed and threatening to take his life and tried to calm him and persuade him into return to safety behind the barrier.   Fortunately Duane recognised the man and it was helpful that he was able to communicate on first-name basis.   The man was reluctant to move and several times made as if to launch himself off the ledge.   Meanwhile Anthony used his mobile phone to call for emergency services and to keep a communication line open, describing to Police what was happening.   An ambulance happened to be passing perchance: it was flagged down and the St John crew assisted Duane at the railing.   With more talking and calming, the disturbed man's resolve to jump gradually weakened and he reluctantly agreed to climb back over the barrier and into the safety of the ambulance.   Police arrived soon after and removed him to a safe house.   The Unit's Acting Chief Fire Officer, Ross Bay, says "last night's actions are commendable - we are proud of our two Members who acted with presence of mind, as would be expected of trained personnel in Fire Service uniform, to help bring a very tense situation to a successful conclusion".

Fire Police get into Gardening
19 April 2009

FPC Nigel Hohaia takes up late-night gardening, digging for the elusive hydrant.

Members took on unusual duties - gardening - at a house fire in Mt Roskill tonight, trying to uncover the nearest fire hydrant which over the years had apparently become buried in the grass verge.   Fire-fighters were forced to run a long feeder hose-line along Potter Avenue to an alternative hydrant when the nearest, right opposite the blazing house, could not be found.   While yellow markings pointed to where the hydrant should have been, it could not be found even on close inspection.   Fire Police at first probed the grass verge trying to strike the hydrant, but to no avail, so this was followed by the "gardening" ... the grass was dug up.   But the resulting excavation failed to reveal a hydrant.   It was left to the water company to sort things out - as well as the missing hydrant, the nearest one along the street was found to be unmarked, so there were anomalies.   The fire severely damaged the house while the elderly woman occupant was taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation and shock.   It was the second serious property fire tonight: Members also attended a Second Alarm callout to a flat ablaze in Mt Eden.

Easter was hardly a break for our Members who attended a number of incidents over the long weekend which were well spread out over the region we serve, and there was quite a variety as well.   The busy holiday weekend began on Thursday evening with a 4th Alarm fire in a block of buildings at the foot of Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket near Broadway.   A restaurant, a sex-aid shop and a beauty salon were involved, suffering fire, heat, smoke or water damage.   Members put in numerous road closures which upset evening peak traffic in Newmarket, particularly buses which had to be re-routed. Other members provided scene protection and set up the Canteen.   Later Thursday night Members assisted at a fatal motor accident in Otara.   Then followed further vehicle crashes during the long weekend - one in South Auckland near Patumahoe, a 3-car incident on State Highway 16 at Massey and another accident on the Brookby Road.   Then there was a blaze involving a huge pile of cars and other metal trash being processed at a Te Papapa recycling plant and a serious house fire in Penderford Place, Mangere.   Early this morning Members responded to a 2nd Alarm fire in a block of shops in Dominion Road, Mt Eden which left one shop, and living accommodation above, seriously damaged.   Later today a cross-arm on a power pole in Market Road, Epsom, gave way, dropping live power lines to about chest-height across the road.   It appears borer, which had infested the timber, chose today to weaken the cross-arm to breaking point!   Members put in traffic diversions until the power company made the scene safe.

Wellington's Surprise Presentation
28 March 2009

Not only was Wellington Fire Support Unit represented at the recent Triple Gold Star and Honours Evening, it presented a token of thanks, in the form of a plaque, to Auckland Fire Police.   The Officer-In-Charge from Wellington, Senior Station Officer Brian Arons, surprised most of the 170 assembled guests when he rose to speak.   After saying how pleased he was to be invited to the event, he asked Chief Fire Officer Jim Smith to accept the plaque on behalf of the Auckland Fire Police, which, Brian said, was due recognition for the lead and advice they give other Units, such as the work put in towards the recent inauguration of TAPS for Fire Police and Operational Support.   He noted that when Auckland Fire Police Corps was formed in 1933, its rules were based on those already well-established by their Wellington counterpart, founded in 1899.   Jim Smith accepted the plaque with pleasure - "thank you, it's a nice surprise from the Wellington Fire Support team in this, the Unit's 75th year".

Inaugural Employer Awards
25 March 2009

The Unit has presented its first-ever awards under the New Zealand Fire Service's Employer Recognition scheme.   Framed certificates, and access to Fire Service branding were presented to members' employers, and self-employed members, who attend calls in what would normally be Company time.   The ceremony, held in conjunction with the Honours Night, was arranged as part of the Unit's 75th Anniversary celebrations.   The Fire Service thanked the employers for their community spirit in allowing volunteer fire police to provide their services when required during company time, and also acknowledged the considerable contribution made by those members who are self-employed and are put aside work so they can respond to calls, often at personal expense.   5 organisations, Laidlaw College, NRC Systems, Telecom, TVNZ and Vehicle Testing New Zealand received employer recognition, along with 4 self employed members, Chelsea Training, Glenn Teal Consulting, Kitchenworx and Trademark Pictures.
(Further details of the Scheme are available here)

Members Honoured at Awards Ceremony
21 March 2009

The Unit gained 3 more Gold Star holders at a presentation tonight to Station Officers Allan Officer and Lance Wright and Fire Police Constable Kevin Stillwell, each having completed 25 years' service.   The rare triple Gold Star ceremony coincided, fittingly, with the Unit's 75th anniversary.   Both Allan and Lance have served all 25 years in the Unit while Kevin has been a member of various Volunteer Brigades from Kawakawa in the North to Nightcaps in Southland.   Other service honours were also presented at the function tonight which brings total service clocked up by the present membership to more than 800 person-years.

"Yellow Pages" are being added to the Unit's website to help celebrate the Unit's 75 years' service.   "There have been other activities during the year to mark our 75th anniversary" says Chief Fire Officer, Jim Smith, "so it's fitting we have a new section added to the web pages".   Designed by web-master FPC Mark Potter, the 75th 'supplement' has yellow livery to separate it from the regular sections of the site, and is an assortment or recollections, historic events of 1933 (our founding year) and tells of the functions held to celebrate three quarters of a century of service to Auckland.   "We hope this adds to the interest of our website", says Jim, "and is a reminder of our history, and how we celebrated our milestone".
Click here to visit the 75th pages

Unit Attends Fire Brigades' Conference
10 March 2009

Chief Fire Officer Jim Smith, the Unit's delegate, and Station Officer Keith Ashton, an observer,
at this year's UFBA Conference in Queenstown.

Auckland Fire Police are represented at the annual United Fire Brigades' Association Conference, this year held in Queenstown after the biennial Waterway Challenge.   Main topics have been the Association's recovery after financial difficulties, the implementation of policies covering all the organisation's processes and proposals to change the rules which govern the organisation.   New Zealand Fire Service executives addressed Conference on a range which included fire-fighting topics, the Fire Service fleet, innovations such as TAPS for Fire Police and also the introduction of further safety procedures and additional equipment arising from the fatal cool-store fire last year at Tamahere.   The Unit's delegate and observer were in the Conference assembly, some 250 fire service personnel (mostly volunteer) from throughout New Zealand, who stood in silence as a mark of respect to Senior Fire Fighter Andrew Scotland of Waipu Volunteer Brigade who was killed today near the Remarkable Range, Queenstown, while participating in a recreation hang-gliding flight.   Andrew had competed in the Waterway Challenge earlier in the week.

TAPS kicks off
21 February 2009

Class of 09 Fire Police and Operational Support personnel, course trainers and assistants
who participated in the inaugural TAPS weekend course in Auckland

Fire Police and Operational Support personnel at an in-the-field exercise,
point duty and traffic management, part of the core TAPS learning

Three members of the Unit were among those attending the inaugural formal course for TAPS (Training and Progression System) for Fire Police and Operational Support personnel which began today at the NZFS Mt Wellington Training Centre in Auckland.   The two-day pilot course follows the recent completion of a work study book with chapters outlining core Fire Police and Operational Support duties.   21 students attended, with representatives from as far South as Invercargill and ranging from smaller rural brigades such as Alexandra to city units like Wellington and Upper Hutt.   Evaluation of the Pilot Course held this weekend will assist Fire Service National Training executives to determine the syllabus, competencies and qualifications for ongoing training.

The Unit's assisting with support services at a joint Emergency Services Open Day at North Harbour Stadium, Albany.   Other local community organisations will be joining the Services in live displays, inter-active and other activities to enhance public awareness and where appropriate, reinforce the safety/prevention message.   Unit members will provide a range of support services, such as security during helicopter operations, to help ensure the day runs smoothly.

Fire #3 in Mt Eden House
1 February 2009

Today's early morning blaze at 14 George Street, Mt Eden, was the third major fire at the property, the second within a fortnight.   And the flames are gradually succeeding in clearing the section ahead of City Council and other protracted legal action to get the work done.   In 2004 the house was badly damaged in a mid-afternoon fire, the flames contained to the interior with a couple of outside walls burned.   The fire-damaged building was allowed to remain, untouched, despite Council and other legal action to get it cleared up.   Then, two weeks ago an early morning second-alarm blaze broke through the roof and took out the front rooms.   Police investigated.   Today's fire, also a second-alarm, gutted what remained of most of the interior, exposing chimneys.   Fire Service investigators and police are again investigating the cause.   Unit's members have assisted at all 3 fires: response, traffic management and cordons have become something of "set piece", definitely a case of déjà vue!

Unit members assisted overnight at 2 serious motor accidents on SH 16 just north of Huapai, the second crash occurring at a road block on the approaches to the first.   Two rescue tenders were responded to the first two-vehicle, head-on, accident after it was found there were multiple persons trapped.   SH16 was blocked by rescue operations, wreckage - and later - by police investigating the crash.   Several people had serious injuries.   Roadblocks were set up at Trigg Road (southern side) and Foster Road (northern side).   As members of the Serious Crash Unit were surveying the accident scene a loud crash was heard at the Trigg Road intersection.   A ute had broken through the road block, skittled cones and ploughed into the side of the police car which had been maintaining the road block.   Emergency workers rushed the 100 meters from the scene of the earlier crash to render first aid to the driver of the ute who was trapped and badly injured.   The police constable at the road block wasn't hurt.   Fire Police set up scene protection at this second accident, Kumeu volunteer fire-fighters responded to the "persons trapped" and the patient was soon cut out and transferred to hospital.   Members of the police Serious Crash Unit, having wrapped up work at the first accident, later returned to Trigg Road intersection to begin their scene investigations and survey.

The 4th Alarm fire at the Penrose paper recycling plant is winding down with just a few crews remaining to watch for hot-spots.   Meantime, scorched and charred bales of paper are being removed by forklifts from the processing plant so they can be inspected for fire and then re-stacked outside.   Fire Police maintained support services until 2200hrs, by which time all specialist appliances had been withdrawn leaving standby crews, expected to continue overnight.   Auckland's warm afternoon temperatures and physical exertion combined during the fire-fight to make it difficult for Fire Police to keep up with the demand for refreshments.   One member was tasked with keeping all the drink stations around the fireground topped up, but the consumption of ice-cold drink made it a fulltime task, difficult to maintain.   The same paper recycling plant had a previous serious fire 2 or 3 years ago, but that blaze involved bales stacked outside, whereas thousands of paper bales involved today were all stored within the processing premises.   And today's fire is in the same street as the recent 6th Alarm fire in the old, disused Southdown meat works and cool-stores.   A motorist, while crossing over hose ramps today, called out to a Fire Policeman "What, another fire? It must be time to build a fire station in Hugo Johnson Drive!"

Fire in paper bails inside a recycling plant has committed Auckland firefighters to a 4th alarm.   The blaze is in thousands of bales of used paper stacked high in the 3 story plant.   The fire is proving persistant despite numerous high and low pressure hose lines being played on the paper to try to douse the flames.   Firefighters have open up the roof to get more water on the bales.   Fire Police have closed Hugo Johnson Drive and are attending to numerous fireground duties.

Fire Police were among those from the emergency services who attended today's early-morning 2nd Alarm house fire in Mangere where 4 lives were lost and several other occupants seriously injured.   The house in Nicola Place, a cul de sac of some 20 houses, was well ablaze when first fire-fighters arrived.   They quickly confirmed "persons reported" when it was apparent not all occupants had made it out of the flaming house.   Members at the scene assisted with traffic management, crowd control and fireground duties.   Fire investigators have begun their inspection of the brick house, which although left standing, has been gutted inside.   In terms of loss of life, today's fire is the most serious in Auckland for many years.   In 1989 six elderly residents died in a fire at Terwindle Rest Home, Herne Bay.

The Unit attended 635 calls during 2008, maintaining its record as the busiest volunteer brigade in New Zealand.   The Unit's members are turning out to an average of 50-55 calls each month.   February (65) and November (61) were well above average while September (42) was not quite so busy.   "When you consider each and every response by our members is to a confirmed working job, it can be appreciated the efforts that are being put in to support the Fire Service and the community" says Chief Fire Officer Jim Smith.   "And of course the number of calls baldly stated in the statistics no way reflects the time being put in by our members.   Some Fire Police tasks on the fireground are completed by 3 or 4 members within the hour, while initially every member of the Unit was turned out to assist at the recent 6th Alarm fire at Southdown Freezing Works.   This was followed by members working in shifts over 72 hours to maintain support services while the main fire-fight continued.   Fire Police put in a total of 652 person hours."

Auckland Fire Police join brigades and individuals up and down New Zealand who are sending condolences to all those who mourn for Hicks Bay Rural Fire Chief, Ray Barrett, killed yesterday afternoon on East Cape.   Chief Fire Officer, Jim Smith, says "every member of our Unit will be mindful of this loss of life at Potaka, a volunteer who died while serving the community, responding to an incident.   Ray Barrett was obviously a leader and a contributor in the local district and his death will be greatly felt.   And at the same time as we send our sympathy to family, the Brigade and friends, we also trust that Ray's fire-fighter son, Tahi, who was injured in the accident will make a speedy and full recovery".

Fire Police operations at the long-duration multiple-alarm Southdown blaze were not without anxious and lighter moments.

The anxious ones:

. When, at the height of the blaze, it was discovered that at least one person had returned to an apartment within the complex to watch TV.   The sports event on screen was apparently more important than the raging fire, until police and fire police tracked down the missing people and removed them from the scene.
. When some occupants were allowed into the premises to salvage vital business records and then the rapid spread of fire was realised and, at a moment's notice, they had to be evacuated.
. Until Great South Road was closed to all traffic, there was concern that poor visibility caused by the thick smoke might lead to accidents.   The possibility of the smoke containing asbestos and other debris was also good reason to close not only the main road but also the railway line.
. Mid-evening Saturday, Fire Police had to divert resources from the Southdown fireground to a major gas leak in Otahuhu, so we had 2 jobs on the go at once.

On the lighter side:

. Police arrested a sightseer and looked around for a police car to transport their prisoner.   Next thing he's being placed in one of our member's cars (a look-alike Holden!) and before the constable went off to chase away other sightseers, gave the instruction to our member "subdue him if he plays up because he's under arrest!"
. And the member who, was in the middle of using the facilities in Fire Police 6 (the ablutions trailer), found himself totally in the dark when at that very moment the generator ran out of fuel and all the lights in the Trailer went out.
. On the other had there was the church group who did see the light and, realising their premises were close to the "Hot Zone" and periodically covered by billowing smoke, re-located their pre-Christmas meetings.
. The fact that some members have served for decades without seeing such a large fire, yet others with just a few months' membership in the Unit were all part of our operations - and are asking the question.   Will they see another comparable blaze, 6th Alarm- plus, tackled by 7 aerial appliances, in their time with the Unit?
. And the owner of a warehouse on the fringe of the fireground who, showing the spirit of the Season, left his premises open over the weekend so the Fire Service could have anytime - access to toilets, a power supply plus domestic water to replenish the Canteen.   He put up with smoke wafting through the open door of his building so we could continue to gain access Monday and Tuesday, and to top this off, just before he left for Christmas holidays, he shared his company's end-of-year barbecue.   Thanks, George.

Fire Police have stood down from the multiple-alarm fire in the old Southdown Freezing Works, almost exactly 72 hours since the initial turnout.   Last members to leave the fireground departed in Fire Police 8, the canteen vehicle, around 1700 hours, there being no longer call for it with the reduced presence of fire-fighters at the scene.   Looking down the list of duties Fire Police performed at Southdown is like scanning the index of the new training manual ... members were called on to carry out practically every task in the book, and then some!   It's difficult to keep statistics of activities etc in the fast pace of an evolving 6th Alarm-plus operation, but here are a few from Fire Police:

. Members put in a total of 652 person-hours
. Almost every member of the Unit attended, some for 4 separate "shifts" within the 72 hours
. Silverdale Fire Police responded, adding their support on Saturday night/Sunday morning
. Fire Police worked with/from 9 Fire Service vehicles during operations
. Countless hot and cold drinks were served
. Hundreds of hot meals were prepared and served
. It became a mission delivering refreshments and meals to fire-fighters in distant sectors within the fireground who could not leave their posts
. Members transported hundreds of fire-fighters to and from their home stations when their appliances were "locked in", required for ongoing operations
. Some intersections controlled by Fire Police at the height of the blaze were more than 3 kilometres from the fireground

"This event was the biggest fire of my 35 years in Fire Police," says Chief Fire Officer Jim Smith, "and as such, called on our Unit to contribute massively over the past three days and nights.   Messages of thanks that have already been received from Fire Service Executives, and others who were assisted, indicate that we more than met expectations."

Persistent Blaze Evades Fire-fighters
22 December 2008

Demolition gang uses a ball and chain to smash down the old Southdown Freezing
works to enable fire-fighters to douse persistent outbreaks.

The massive multiple alarm fire in the derelict Southdown Freezing Works goes on and on.   There's been a continuous fire-fight at the largely-abandoned buildings since Saturday evening, with multiple crews attacking the blaze from aerial and pumping appliances plus ground monitors.   Some controlled demolition began today, smashing down parts of the old, rambling range of structures to enable fire-fighters to get water deep inside burning cool-stores and the former freezing works' processing areas.   It's hoped this will speed attempts to douse remaining fires.   Fire Police have continued their full range of tasks on and around the fireground, including a road block to exclude sightseers, command unit duties, security of premises, recovery of used equipment, crew transport and replenishment of stocks to enable members to keep the canteen operational at the scene, providing refreshments and meals.   Fire Police will be on duty at Southdown right through the night, the third in a row, supporting fire-fighting operations.   The outlook is for more of the same tomorrow at this historic, yet stubborn blaze.

Unit Busy at Southdown Multi-Alarm
21 December 2008

The Unit has been pressed to undertake all that's been asked of it since the old Southdown Freezing Works caught fire last evening.   And no wonder.   Veteran fire-fighters among those tackling the massive blaze said it was the biggest they had encountered, the most persistent and subsequently required the longest fire-fight.   It also re-wrote the record books.   It was a Sixth Alarm, plus (an innovation in Fire Service response in Auckland).   7 Aerial appliances were used at one stage (a number not seen in Auckland before, one from Hamilton), there was a record number of personnel and appliance movements for both the fireground and cover moves and kilometres of hose was laid to pipe in water from sources up to a kilometre from the fire.   An asbestos alert meant full decontamination of all personnel who worked within the "Hot Zone".
Auckland Fire Police, supported by colleagues from Silverdale Volunteer Fire Brigade, have been carrying out their full range of duties and by tonight practically every member of the Unit, working shifts, will have been deployed at the fire.   The fire was contained in the largely-disused and vandalised, rambling range of 3 storey buildings formerly the Southdown Freezing Works, including derelict cool stores, meat processing plants and offices.   Ironically, over the years since the Works closed, the building has been used by both fire-fighters and fire police for training exercises.   The premises are also quite well known because there have been two previous sizable fires in the premises.   But the latest one, with so many superlatives goes down in Auckland fire services' history.

Today marks the end of the help the Unit gives every year to assist Santa's safe annual arrival in 8 communities across Auckland.   Members put in hundreds of hours helping with traffic management, road closures and OSH duties at the various Santa parades from Howick in the East to Te Atatu in the West.   This yearly activity hones members' traffic skills and often presents public relations situations: not everyone agrees roads should be closed to facilitate a safe entrance for the bewhiskered gent in red!   The work also contributes to the Unit's funds.   All went without incident, except in Papatotoe where a driver, returning from the liquor shop after buying a dozen beer, got stopped at a road closure.   He decided to wait it out for the hour while the parade passed.   Temptation took over.   He consumed most of the beer and was incapable of driving.   Police took him away for further testing!

The early evening 4th Alarm blaze that destroyed Mitre 10's retail store in Onehunga was part of a busy day, and night, for the Unit.   Most members turned out to assist at the 4th Alarm, either on the initial turnout or when relievers were requested later in the evening.   The fire consumed the aging building which more or less occupied a block in the industrial area on Onehunga's foreshore.   Some surrounding buildings were also damaged, factories evacuated and because the thick black smoke created visibility hazards, the nearby motorway was closed.   Members were on duty at this call for 8 hours: others had put in similar hours from late morning at a gas leak in New Lynn which also caused evacuations, road closures and the cancellation of all train services on the commuter route.   The Unit responded to an early evening 2nd Alarm fire on the 12th floor of an apartment building in the inner city and, in the morning, to a bus on fire in Meadowbank.   Just to cap off these activities, the 4th Alarm forced postponement of the Unit's monthly meeting . with members fully occupied at the fire!

International Volunteer Day
5 December 2008

Members of the Unit join their volunteer counterparts, world-wide, to help celebrate 5 December, set aside by the United Nations as International Volunteer Day.   The Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon, in his message to mark the day, gives the example of an elderly New Zealand woman who travelled to Liberia to volunteer in a peace-keeping mission.   "People across the world contribute their knowledge and energy as volunteers" Ban Ki-Moon said, "and while the cultural form and definition of a volunteer may change depending on circumstances, the underlying principle never wavers . every individual can make a difference.   The altruistic spirit of volunteerism is immense and renewable".

A Training and Progressive System (TAPS) similar to that for fire-fighters is about to be rolled out by the New Zealand Fire Service for Fire Police and Operations Support personnel.   The Unit's Officers have been assisting the Service's Human Resources staff and consultants to design and compile a Manual which will be the centrepiece for TAPS, the first-ever comprehensive training document issued nationwide to Fire Police and Operations Support volunteers.   The Manual lists typical duties and tasks that these personnel undertake, explains why proficiency in them is important, advises how best they are carried out and combines this with questionnaires and exercises for assessment, along with suggestions for follow-up study.   Work on the document was all but completed today . TAPS for Fire Police and Operations Support is expected to roll out next year, trialled at a number of selected brigades.

Fire Police began their busiest morning in years at a house fire in Ranui.   The unoccupied dwelling was well alight and despite a spirited fire-fight the place was seriously damaged.   Before Fire Police were finished at this call, there was another alert to a factory on fire in Bruce McLaren Road, Henderson.   This quickly escalated to a third alarm, the fire fed by oils and foodstuffs in the premises which were used for processing Indian and Asian foods.   Before fire-fighters got the upper hand of this blaze we were paged to assist with scene protection at a nearby motor vehicle accident, car versus pole with power lines down, so some members were diverted from the factory fire to help.   Then, just as Fire Police were wrapping up tasks in the West, there was a call to a kitchen fire in a house at Clover Park in southern suburbs.   The blaze quickly spread, the house was badly damaged throughout.   This string of calls meant that this morning several members achieved the rare "hat-trick", attendance at 3 calls, responding to each immediately following the other.

Our first 12 months on the Internet have flown!   We've come to think of it as the best fire brigade/department website.   It has put our brigade "out there", given us a virtual home, provided members with a useful reference point for rosters and memos and has been instrumental in recruiting our keenest new members.   It's also where we record our Brigade's service to the community, where we chronicle our proud history and where we list the achievements of our people.   So, what happened during the year?   Well, we have attended 637 incidents (including a 5th Alarm or 2), we celebrated our 75th Anniversary (and we still are!), we appointed our first-ever Patron (David Neil), we appointed our first ever honorary member (Stu Kearns), we attained 3 more Gold Star holders (SOs Ashton, Carlyon and England), we progressively upgraded comms systems and radios and one of our members joined counterparts in the USA for their 75th celebrations.   And we launched our website!   Happy first birthday to http://www.aucklandfirepolice.org.nz. (How on earth do we get all that in when we sing "Happy Birthday!"?)

Members arriving at a 2nd Alarm fire in Kingsland late tonight found the former Mt Albert Fire Station well alight.   Closed after 50 years' service in 1974 and replaced by Balmoral Station, the old concrete building was converted to a boarding house.   Originally a "persons reported" call, all sixteen male residents made good their escape from the flames, losing all their personal possessions.   Members closed New North Road to all traffic, assisted at the Command Point and prepared refreshments for emergency workers and the evacuees.  Police transported the homeless men to alternative Backpacker accommodation in the city.

New Role for Unit's Chief Makes History
27 September 2008

President Jim Smith inherits the Chain of Office from Past President Tony Sanford (Warkworth)

Chief Fire Officer, Jim Smith, has a new position in fire brigade circles.   At the Annual General Meeting of the Auckland Districts Fire Brigades' Sub-Association, Jim was installed as President for the ensuing year. Handed the Chain of Office by outgoing President, Senior Fire-fighter Tony Sanford, Jim says he looks forward to fostering renewed interest in the Association, which has as its members fire brigades from Wellsford to Mercer with a few additional outside these boundaries who join so they're eligible to compete in Waterway and other Challenges arranged by the Association.
The appointment makes history for the Unit this year, appropriately as it celebrates 75 years.   Leading roles in fire brigade organisations are taken by Fire Police, all members of the Unit.   Jim is President of the Auckland Districts Fire Brigades' Association, Russell Allen is President of the Auckland Provincial Fire Brigades' Association and Ric Carlyon continues as member of the Board of Governors of the United Fire Brigades' Association.

Unit Now has a Patron
17 September 2008

The Unit has a Patron for the first time in its 75 year history.   The announcement was made by Chief Fire Officer Jim Smith at the Unit's 75th Annual General Meeting when he declared that Mr David Neil had been voted unanimously to the position.   "It's entirely appropriate to take this initiative in our 75th year" said Jim Smith, "especially when we found a very suitable nominee who knows our Unit and its members very well, who has been a firm supporter of the Unit over many years and has mana both within and outside the New Zealand Fire Service".   David Neil recently retired from the Service where he was a senior executive officer.   Members of the Unit had also agreed, again unanimously, that the new Patron be made an Honorary Member of the Brigade and Jim Smith presented David with the appropriate badge.

The Unit celebrated with good cause during and after its 75th Annual General Meeting held at Regional Headquarters.   Among the special guests were Life Honorary and past members who helped mark the Unit's important milestone.   Visitors included a connection with the formation of the Unit in 1933 - Mrs Kaye Solly.   It was her grandfather, Superintendent Bill Wilson, who decided to establish Fire Police in Auckland and organised their inaugural meeting in June 1933.   And then Kaye's father, Lloyd Wilson, later fostered the Unit in his time as Auckland's Chief Fire Officer.   Executives of the New Zealand Fire Service also attended the 75th AGM.   The Unit received a birthday gift, a handsome plaque, from Fire Police in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania who also celebrate their 75th anniversary this year.   The minutes of the Unit's founding meeting in 1933 were read and our newest member, Karl Berghan, took the Oath during which all members were asked to reflect on the undertaking they had sworn when they joined.   The AGM ended with a supper complete with a 75th birthday cake.   Click here to see photos

  Following the near catastrophe of Duane Carnell's pet cat, Whisky, (see story below), the Unit now catalogues another feline item.   The catalyst was a change of vehicles - the former Fire Police 3 (Whisky's favourite place to catnap) was catapulted to another brigade and Fire Police inherited a similar Mitsubishi, the new Fire Police 3.   Remarkably, it comes with its own catflap built in to the rear locker between the standpipe and key (picture 1).

Whisky must think he's in Fire Cat Heaven with his own door, and a see-through one at that!   Only there's a catch - it's not really a cat door.   The Brigade that formerly had the Mitsi added the hatch to allow access for cables from the generator stowed in the rear locker.   Duane has categorically banned his cat from the vehicle, but not to be outdone another feline has taken over from Whisky.   This time it's a big cat, strategically positioned so it looks out, grinning like a Cheshire at everyone following Fire Police 3.   And they smile back! (picture 2).

Despite all rules and regulations, one of the Unit's vehicles has been carrying Whisky, the duty driver unaware of his illicit cargo.   Member Duane Carnell returned Fire Police 3 to Balmoral Station recently and something told him to check over the vehicle very carefully before relinquishing it.   He then made the chance discovery in a rear locker.   Whisky, his appropriately named black and white cat and known for its curiosity, must have wandered into the locker while Duane had the doors open doing his routine checks.   Now discovered, Whisky was pleased to see daylight again after its entrapment ... and its ride across Auckland ... while Duane was equally grateful that the cat was out of the bag, enabling him to return Puss home, none the worse for its adventure.   On this occasion perhaps one of its 9 lives was used: curiosity did not kill this cat!

Unit Represented at Expo in U.S.
18 August 2008

One of our members, Mark Potter, has just returned from attending the Montgomery County Fire Police Expo near Philadelphia.   Mark was invited to speak about the Auckland Fire Police at the event and how Fire Police are utilised in New Zealand.   Mark also visited several fire stations in the Montgomery County area during his 3 day stay, taking the opportunity to talk with many of their Fire Police members.  
"It was a great opportunity to meet volunteer counterparts in the Montgomery County area to share our experiences" says Mark who found the Fire Police Association and its members "incredibly hospitable, making me feel very welcome".   The Auckland Fire Police Unit and Montgomery County Fire Police Association, although half a world apart, struck up a friendship after they found that this year they both celebrate 75 years of service.   Click here to see photos

Most members of the Unit were busily engaged for 24 hours when an Adverse Weather Event, gale-force-plus winds and torrential downpours, swept the North of the North Island passing across Auckland.
In addition to normally rostered response vehicles, Fire Police crews manned additional vans which were strategically stationed at Warkworth, Henderson and Beachlands Stations ready to assist.
Meanwhile, the Regional Emergency Operating Centre had been activated and Fire Police put their communications training to good effect manning radios, and arranging contact between key stakeholders.   This team was also tasked to call back some of the hundreds of 111 callers as the storm abated to ascertain that the emergency they had called in still warranted the attendance of the Fire Service.   These calls were then prioritised (flooding, trees blown over, roofs lifting, power wires down) and passed to FireComm for appropriate follow-up action.   Members also helped keep a Weather Watch, gathering data to track the storm as its destructive path crossed the Region.
Members also responded to numerous storm-related incidents in the 24 hours to 2200hrs Saturday.
The Met Service forecasts a simular storm brewing, due in a few days

The Unit has begun a series of year-long celebrations to mark its 75th birthday.   The first function, tonight, is held on the eve of the exact date in 1933 when 12 founding members gathered to form the Auckland Volunteer Fire Police Corps under the patronage of the then Chief Fire Officer (Superintendent) Bill Wilson.   The Unit's 75 years' service to Auckland will also be celebrated in other events over the next 12 months, notable among them the 75th Annual General Meeting in September.

Members of the New Zealand Police Serious Crash Unit (SCU) from Waitemata attended the Unit's regular monthy meeting to thank members for their ongoing support at the scenes of serious motor accidents.   Sergeant Stuart Kearns and Constables Karl Bevan and Paul Hayward are members of the team which investigates serious crashes in districts to the West and North of Auckland.   Sgt Kearns, himself an honorary member of the Unit, told the meeting that there's a tremendous level of professionalism among members and that their presence at the scenes of accidents is greatly appreciated.   Fire Police regularly assist the SCU at road closures and traffic management - "it's always a comfort to know we can carry out our investigations out on the highways or in suburban streets in a tightly controlled situation without having to worry about our safety" says Stuart, "and Fire Police very ably carry out those duties".   He presented a plaque to tangibly thank the Unit.   Chief Fire Officer Jim Smith said he received it on behalf of all members and that he considers helping the SCU is part of the Unit's mission to assist the community wherever Fire Police skills can be usefully deployed.

Auckland Fire Police are going to make the most of attaining 75 years, with celebrations planned throughout the year to celebrate.   The first event on June 21st will mark, almost exactly, the anniversary of the founding meeting in 1933 of the Auckland Fire Police Corps when 12 members were enrolled and sworn in.   The June function is for members, honorary life members and their partners but in September there will be an opportunity for wider attendance at the Unit's 75th Annual General Meeting, with further celebrations.   Other events are scheduled, the Unit's compiling a special '75 Years' section on its website and there'll be a Unit photograph to capture the membership in the Unit's special year.

Members assisted police during a task that took nearly 24 hours to recover a car which plunged off Scenic Drive, crashed through bush and came to rest against trees, well out of sight, about 70 meters below the road.   The driver, seriously hurt in the crash, was relatively easily rescued but the salvage of the car proved difficult in thickly-bushed steep country.   Police wanted the vehicle as part of their investigation into the accident.   Fire Police closed a large section of Scenic Drive while salvage operations continued, first yesterday afternoon and well into the night until conditions were deemed unsafe.   Our members returned this morning along with police, fire fighters and salvage experts, the plan to hoist the car back up to the road.   This proved impracticable, Scenic Drive was reopened and the crashed car was winched down the hill through the bush to a nearby resident's driveway, loaded on to a tow truck and removed.

The Unit's delegates attending the Auckland Provincial Fire Brigades' Association Annual Meeting heard updates on various activities affecting the Service.   The meeting, held in Cambridge, Waikato this year, brings together representatives of volunteer fire brigades between Northland and Turangi.   Among the topics discussed were the local waterway challenges (the national title of which is open to competition from all brigades in New Zealand), design of latest fire appliances including specifications for new water tankers, a proposal to review the look of our formal uniform and recent changes in administration at the United Fire Brigades' Association headquarters.   Hamilton Fire Chief, Roy Breeze, gave an update and rundown on the Tamihere cool store fire.   Earlier in the meeting members had stood in silence to honour SSO Derek Lovell who died of injuries suffered at the scene.   FPC Russell Allen, a member of our Unit, was installed as President of the Provincial Association for the ensuing year.

Members assisted at two big Auckland events today, one a fire service related challenge, the other based out on the Auckland Harbour.   In downtown Auckland, members were assisting at the Firefighters' Sky Tower Vertical Challenge where 230 personnel, all in full protective clothing, some donned with breathing apparatus while others were donned and using their sets, took on the 47 flights of stairs to the top of the tower.   Our members assisted with traffic management and security around the event.
Meanwhile down on the harbour, this year's Auckland heat of the Power Boat Championship had craft zooming along at up to 150 kph around a course in the inner harbour.   Elaborate plans to deal with any emergency out on the water involve the use of helicopters, divers, medics, rescue boats, and patrol craft.   Skills learned at Fire Police training means our members are ideally equipped to assist at Race Headquarters and on the waterfront, ready to help manage emergency response should it be required.   Although there was plenty of action during the racing, the event passed without incident.

Anzac Day's one of the busiest days on the Unit's calendar as we assist the community at numerous commemorative services, mostly in South Auckland.   "Members' training and expertise in traffic management means we are called on to help close roads and to ensure the safety of participants marching in street parades" says the Unit's acting Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal.   "We assist at 7 different Anzac Day services, with crews on duty as early as 4am to help with Dawn Services and then later in the morning at various civic ceremonies".

The Unit will be represented at activities on Saturday 26th April marking Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade's fiftieth anniversary.   Like many brigades, it was formed after a large fire galvanised the community to action, with 9 enthusiastic locals banding together with minimal resources to protect their community from fire.   The Brigade has thrived ever since.   Our members will be present at Greenhithe's Open Day on Saturday and there's to be a celebratory dinner that night.   Greenhithe's jubilee falls just a few months short of this Unit's seventy-fifth anniversary.   Happy Birthday, Greenhithe!!!

12 of our members joined hundreds of fellow Fire Service personnel, representatives from other emergency services, family, friends and other mourners at Te Rapa racecourse today to attend the funeral service for Senior Station Officer Derek Lovell, who died of injuries received at last weekend's explosion and fire at Icepak coolstores, Tamahere.   "Auckland Fire Police were there on the night it happened, supporting fire fighters during the massive blaze" said one member of the Unit, "so it was fitting we returned to Hamilton today to join all those who gathered to celebrate SSO Lovell's life".
Members of the fire crews who were badly injured in the fire also attended, participating in the service from their hospital beds which had been specially taken to the race-course.   Auckland Fire Police representatives took their place in the Honour Guard, comprising many hundreds of uniformed Fire Service personnel from throughout the country, as well as representatives from overseas brigades, as Derek Lovell departed Te Rapa on his Last Call.

The Unit responded more than a 100kms to support those tackling the tragic fire in Icepak's industrial coolstores at Tamahere on the outskirts of Hamilton.   Members took the mobile canteen (Fire Police 8) and the ablutions trailer (Fire Police 6 towed by Fire Police 5), resources used on the fireground until local catering and facilities could be arranged and set up.   "We provide support services based in Auckland", says Fire Police Chief Jim Smith, "but when there's a need, we are more than happy to cross boundaries to help at major events in neigbouring Regions".   5 members travelled to Tamahere, in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Fire Region, to support crews who had responded to the 5th alarm call-out, as well as a fleet of water tankers summoned to the blazing coolstores located in a rural, non-reticulated area.   "Members of our Unit join with the rest of the Fire Service "family" and the community in their sympathy to Senior Station Officer Derek Lovell's family and colleagues", says Jim Smith, "you are all in our thoughts, together with those fire-fighters who were injured".

Our Executive liaison officer, Assistant Regional Fire Commander David Neil, is retiring and a round of functions has begun to farewell and honour the veteran of 41 years in the Service.   Fire Police, like all other volunteer brigades in the Auckland Region will greatly miss David's leadership, advocacy, and personal friendship, to say nothing of his dedication to furthering volunteerism in the Fire Service.   Fire Police Chief, Jim Smith, says "David saw the value of positioning our Unit as a regional resource and has been unstinting in his support for us - a strong believer in the retention of Fire Police, in name, and in the continuing niche services we provide fire fighters, emergency services' workers and the wider community.   This has enabed us to adapt and improve our operations to meet fireground needs throughout greater Auckland now, and in future years".

The Unit's delegates, and representatives of many other volunteer fire brigades from throughout New Zealand, have just returned from Nelson, and the United Fire Brigades' Association annual conference.   Minister of Internal Affairs, Rick Barker, told delegates that the eagerly-awaited rewrite of Fire Service legislation is stalled because it's difficult to reach agreement about what should be done.   "This is indeed unfortunate.   I consulted widely because you need a consensus for change to make things work, but we are struggling to reach a consensus among all stakeholders: some views remain entrenched and the time's not right..."   The Minister believes change is inevitable, he has not given up on improvements for all volunteers in the Service and finding ways to better support them.   To this end, he says he's consulting Cabinet colleagues to try to progress matters.

The Unit has been given $7,000 by the Waitakere Licensing Trust enabling Fire Police communications equipment to be upgraded to state-of-the-art.   Auckland Fire Police Unit operates its own radio channels so that members can communicate en route to calls and when they are at emergency incidents.   To obtain clear reception right across our sprawling Region we must maintain 4 transmitters, linked, and the present equipment is ageing, having served us for more than 15 years, now overtaken by advances in technology.   The replacement project is well under way . 2 transmitters were ordered some time ago and are now ready to install.
The Trust's grant means the other 2 transmitters can now be purchased.   The Unit's Chief Fire Officer, Jim Smith, says he's grateful for the Trust's generosity - "a good radio system is essential and this grant will ensure that our members, and the communities we serve and support, benefit from efficient communications in West Auckland and beyond . in fact, from Warkworth to Meremere, coast to coast.

The Unit's monthly meeting was joined by experts in uniform and PPE.   CFO Keith Whale from New Zealand Fire Service HQ and 2 representatives from Yakka Apparel Solutions Ltd held a discussion looking for ideas as they try for the perfect outfitting of Fire Police/Operations Support.   Mr Whale said that from his point of view the apparel needs to be safe, durable, comfortable, stylish, affordable and not too dissimilar in appearance to fire-fighter's protective clothing . a corporate look/branding which might be shared by others who do not need full firefighters' protection.
Members saw the need for a light breathing textile, like the yellow jacket recently trialled, together with a shaped flap on the radio pocket to cater for the aerial, a pocket for a pager, a removable summer/winter liner, and the hood retained.   Some members thought the present high-visibility lime over-trousers are preferable to the proposed alternative, dark blue.   The compromise might be to add reflectorised stripes to the dark blue to give better protection at night.   Members suggested some other apparel or styles that were beyond the budget - the balancing act is to maintain safety, retain comfort and not break the bank.   Let's see how far we got when the next trial garments arrive!

Long-serving member of the Unit, Station Officer Ross Bay, led the Service during the State Funeral for Sir Edmund Hillary held today in St Mary's Church.
As the Very Reverend Ross Bay, he's Dean of Auckland, with oversight for the Holy Trinity Cathedral in which Sir Edmund lay in state before his funeral in the adjacent St Mary's.   It was only in November that Unit members joined the congregation at Holy Trinity to witness his installation as Dean.   Within weeks, before he had properly settled into his new position, Ross found himself central to family, government, security, police and church arrangements for Sir Edmund's State Funeral.   The service was to be seen around the globe on television, it was front page of every local newspaper and it featured on all radio news bulletins, as New Zealand farewelled the famous mountaineer, adventurer, diplomat, benefactor and good Kiwi bloke.
Click here  to see how TVNZ's "Close Up" programme sees Ross . as presenter Mark Sainsbury describes him . "the Dean of Auckland who leads a double life"!

We welcome in the New Year with best wishes to all for a happy, healthful and prosperous 2008.   Several important fire service-related events will be remembered during the year, some abroad, others local and one of them, our very own!
In England, 100 years ago, Bradford Fire Brigade ordered a new fire engine with a motor which was "not only for locomotion but also for pumping" from manufacturers whose patented worm-drive transmission was largely unproven.   Dennis Brothers thus made their first fire engine.   It was enthusiastically acclaimed, promoting the company to the forefront of fire engine makers: the Dennis name has endured to the modern era.
In America, the centenary will recall the tragic fire in Rhoads Opera House, Boyertown, Pennsylvania, when 170 people perished, trapped inside the blazing building.   Far-reaching fire safety rules for public buildings were introduced as a direct result of this 1908 tragedy, first made federal law in the United States: its principles later adopted by many other countries.
Here in New Zealand, it's a century since legislators were successful with their 3rd attempt in as many years at a consolidated Fire Brigades Act.   The 1908 version was the foundation for much of the law (revised several times in the interim) under which fire services in this country presently operate.   Maybe we will celebrate the centenary with the introduction of the much-discussed major overhaul of our fire legislation?
Closer to home, we'll be celebrating 2008 as a milestone year for Auckland Fire Police, marking 75 years' continuous service to our community.   June 22nd 1933 was the actual date when our Unit was formed and the first 12 constables sworn in.   There'll be appropriate activities to commemorate this special anniversary.

Late night turn-out: "Multiple calls to a light aircraft in distress"

Sit rep #1 - "From Officer Incredulous: Observing light aircraft flying North to South, sometimes at rooftop level, pilot probably disoriented.   Investigating further"

Sit rep #2 - "From Officer Incredulous: Further sitrep . Unidentified open-type light aircraft, appears unable to gain height, showing single red light to the front.   Advise Air Traffic Control".

Sit Rep #3 - "From Officer Scrooge: Be advised the same hoax callers got us out of our beds on a wild goose chase last Christmas Eve.   No further action. K28 -1".

Sit Rep #4 - "From Officer Incredulous: Reporting white light from what looks like another aircraft at high altitude approaching from the East".

Stop Message - "From Officer Enlightenment: Stop for low-flying craft making multiple soft landings at roof top level and a bright star in Eastern skies.   False alarm with good intent.   Merry Christmas everyone!!!"

Christmas came a little early for the Auckland Fire Police with advice from Regional Headquarters that the Fire Service Commission has issued our Unit with 14 new hand-held radios.
10 Motorola GP329s each with a selection of 16 channels, and 4 Tait radios will be allocated to members as soon as they're programmed to suit the Unit's needs.   "This package, appropriately announced as Christmas approaches, is very welcome," says the Unit's Chief Fire Officer, Jim Smith, "particularly as some of our radios are fast reaching the end of their useful life.   This package will ensure we can continue to issue each member with a reliable radio.   Efficient communications between Fire Police, and others, are essential for personal safety on the incident ground and for routine messages among members via the Unit's own radio network, right across the Fire Region we serve".

Members have been called out a number of times in recent days to assist at operations following the escape Thursday of an estimated 10,000 litres from the underground tanks at a Glen Innes service station.   It's a multi-agency event and is likely to continue for some time, continuing to disrupt the Glen Innes shopping centre.
Fire Police have been summoned several times to assist at the scene as various phases of the operation are undertaken.   The latest turnouts were to help close several streets, including major traffic thoroughfares to all vehicles and pedestrians.   This extended "no go area" is to minimise risk of explosion/fire while the station forecourt is excavated and test bores are drilled to find how far the petrol seeped once it escaped through a damaged underground pipe.   In addition to the cordon, Members are also staffing the Fire Service's mobile canteen.

This afternoon's call to a petrol spillage is likely to stretch into the night.   Thousands of litres of petrol escaped from an underground tank at a Glen Innes service station and the fuel has seeped 200 metres to the Taniwha creek.   Fire fighters, conservationists, drainage experts, and contractors are disposing of the fuel - operations which are expected to continue late into the night.   Fire Police were involved in staffing roadblocks, maintaining cordons, and operating the Fire Service Canteen.

5th Alarm and 3 other calls ...
13 December 2007

Four calls in the course of the evening (12th December) kept members busy, the action centred on a fifth-alarm blaze in a building used as a fumigation station in Mangere's industrial zone.   The premises contained a wide range of chemicals, some toxic, used to treat imported goods to ensure MAF's bio-security requirements are met.   Smoke from the building, and run off, carried a cocktail of chemicals which required a wide "no go" area, road closures, and down-wind evacuation of factories and houses.   Members maintained the cordons, fetched and staffed the canteen, ablutions trailer and communications caravan and also carried out many other fireground duties, not the least keeping up a supply of BA cylinders during the height of the fire.
Mid-evening there was a call to a serious persons-trapped motor vehicle accident on the main access road to Auckland airport.   Some members were sent from the fire to establish road closures at two of South Auckland's busiest intersections, Mangere's Kirkbride Rd and at the Airport's exit roundabout, while others attended to scene protection at the incident.   The two car crash resulted in multiple fatalities.   There were some interesting exchanges with motorists who found the road closed and that their only access to the airport was the much longer detour via Puhunui.
The third call was to assist with road closures at another motor vehicle accident in Titirangi and the fourth turnout was to a shed fire, believe it or not, also in Mangere!

Statistics released to coincide with December 5th, International Volunteer Day, reveal the extent of volunteerism in New Zealand's 97,000 not-for-profit organisations.   More than a million New Zealanders, or 31 per cent of those over the age of 12 years, participate in some form of organised volunteer activity. They each put in an average of 5.1 hours every week.   This all adds up to 270 million hours of unpaid work, the equal of one and quarter million full-time positions.   And the final statistic - the time contributed by volunteers is valued, annually, at more than $3.3 billion.   Members of the Unit acknowledge the thanks and congratulations conveyed by various local and international organisations on the occasion of International Volunteer Day and we extend our greetings to all other not-for-profit organisations, particularly volunteer fire brigades, everywhere.

Honorary Member
3 December 2007

The Unit recently announced what's believed to be it's first-ever honorary member. Sergeant Stuart (Stu) Kearns of the New Zealand Police was presented with an Honorary Member's certificate at the Unit's annual Honours Evening.   Chief Fire Officer Jim Smith told the gathering that Sgt Kearns had greatly assisted the Unit over many years and it's appropriate that he be thanked by way of honorary membership.   Stu was a member of the Auckland Fire Police unit in the 1980's while a traffic officer with the Ministry of Transport, duties later taken over by police.

Dean of Auckland
19 November 2007

Members of the Unit joined the congregation, Monday 19th, for a special service at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Parnell, to witness the installation of Station Officer (Fire Police), the Very Reverend, Ross Bay as the 8th Dean of Auckland and Vicar-General of the Diocese.   Ross had been Vicar of St Mark's in Remuera until his appointment, and last year was made Archdeacon of Auckland.
Members of the Unit joined a capacity congregation of clergy and laity to see Ross installed as Dean and to wish him well in his new position.   Ross has been a member of the Fire Police unit for 17 years.

Auckland Fire Police now have their own website. It was officially switched on by the newly appointed Mayor of Manukau City, Len Brown, during a ceremony as part of the Unit's Honours Night. "The site shows the work of the Unit on-screen with up-to-the-minute progress of the calls members are attending" Jim Smith says, and "there's also a wealth of information about the Unit, including a look at our history, acknowledgment of our founding pioneers and others who have shaped the Unit over the decades. The Unit's honours are proudly displayed in another section of the website".
"What makes this a particularly important milestone is the fact that all the talent to design, create and compile the website came from within the Unit", Chief Jim Smith continued, "FPC Mark Potter, webdesigner, and SO Ric Carlyon have done a great job, putting in many hours to craft a website which I believe sets a new standard for other Fire Brigades to emulate".

Triple Gold Star Evening
10 November 2007

The Unit now has 3 more Gold Star members after a presentation on Saturday 10th November. Station Officers Keith Ashton, Ric Carlyon and Chris England joined the list of 9 other serving members in the Unit who have attained the coveted Gold Star for 25 years' service.
The medals were presented by Past-President of the United Fire Brigades' Association, CFO Graeme Booth, followed by other presentations to the trio on behalf of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission and the Unit. Other members received UFBA Service Honours during the social evening.