|It has been a long time since my last post, because nothing has bloody happened.
As soon as it does I will update you all.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Fund Raising
We have decided that we would all like 'wildfire jackets' they cost $237.00 each and the NZFS will not pay for them so we have to raise funds ourselves, if you have any money for us, you can get in touch with us at the station and give us the cash.
We need 20 odd jackets so a lot of fund raising needs to be done.
The fire fighter in this picture is wearing a wildfire jacket, this is what we want.
We need 20 odd jackets so a lot of fund raising needs to be done.
The fire fighter in this picture is wearing a wildfire jacket, this is what we want.
Fire call
Building fire, Ngongotaha, 5.57pm, 15/07/08
The local health centre next to the BP garage caught fire, made it to the station after the trucks had left, but drove to the scene with another fire fighter in 8229, then helped damp down and assisted fire investigator with establishing the cause of the fire. Moving filing cabinets and cooling burning paperwork.
Then we packed up all the equipment and returned to the station. Got home about 10.30pm.
The local health centre next to the BP garage caught fire, made it to the station after the trucks had left, but drove to the scene with another fire fighter in 8229, then helped damp down and assisted fire investigator with establishing the cause of the fire. Moving filing cabinets and cooling burning paperwork.
Then we packed up all the equipment and returned to the station. Got home about 10.30pm.
Volunteer Recruit Training Course
On Sunday 6th july, with three other recruits, at 7.00am we left for the National Training Centre right here in sunny Rotorua.
DAY 1
After a few hours in the class room doing a bit of health and safety and course administration, we hit the parade ground, for inspection and then into training.
In watches of five, we started with basic hose drills, followed by more hose drills, then after lunch, more hose drills followed by a hose drill to finish of the afternoon and then a hose drill to finish the day, then recovering a runaway branch, which involves crawling along the hose in 6 inches of cold freezing mud, to catch a 3 kilo lump of aluminium that would happily take your head off if given a chance. Then in the shower a bit more classroom then home. OH MY GOD! I have never worked so hard in my life!
DAY 2
Parade at 8.00am, followed by hose drills, more hose drills and more hose drills, guess what we did after lunch? Thats right Ladder drills, portable dams and portable pumps followed by ground monitors!
DAY 3
Level 2 first aid, all day.
As a total surprise to us all on the course, we were greeted by a special guest. Fire Fighter Cameron Grylls. Those of you not that upto date with the New Zealand Fire Service, will not have heard of Cameron. He was one of the Fire Fighters injured in the April 2008 Tamahere Coolstore Fire. Cameron is also a registered nurse and has just finished his first aid trainers course and the NZFS decided we could be his first guinea pigs.
After an emotional welcome in the morning, lunch was followed by a question and answer session that lastest about an hour, we were all in total awe of a man who chose to protect life and property of other people and almost paid the ultimate price. Our deepest sympathies go to all those injured at the Tamahere fire and to the family and friends of SSO Derek Lovell, who died in the explosion.
SO, passed first aid and onto day 4, breathing apparatus training!
DAY 4
Breathing apparatus (BA) training day 1 of 3. Probably the most least looked forward to element of the course.
After some morning theory training it was onto the BATB, Breathing apparatus training building.
BATB!!
BATB is a four storey, gas heated to 80 degrees celsius, training building. Loaded with obstacle courses and stairs and stuff, all the normal things you encounter in a burning building.
Day 1 consisted of 5 wearings, completing the obstacle course, search and rescue techniques, air maximisation and breathing techniques. Gas suit training, Entry control and equipment doning procedures.
Day2 was much the same but harder drills, but the experience gained in day 1 carried us through.
Day 3 and we moved to Rotorua Fire Station and RFTB!
The Realistic Fire Training Building is located in the bottom of the training tower, and is basically a giant concrete box with a log fire in the corner.
I was slightly very bloody scared. Standing in a building with BA on while the instructor lit a fire and we stand there as smoke fills the room. Take the mask of and take one breath and you DIE! It reached 410 degrees celsius in there by the end of the day, bloody hot. We did 4 wearings that day and by the end of it I was disappointed that I couldn't do more, I loved it and was never really that scared. The sight of fire did not seem to bother me, I just focused on completeing the task at hand.
DAY 7
Back to the NTC and one last day of theory, a few more parcticle demonstrations on foam application, fire extinguishers and ejector pumps, don't ask, you won't understand, and then one final drill involving all the knowledge we had gathered over the last six days, culminating in me making access to the third floor window via a ladder wearing full BA, in torrential rain. Window was about 7-8metres high and I am very scared of heights, slightly less now though!
Job done.
DAY 1
After a few hours in the class room doing a bit of health and safety and course administration, we hit the parade ground, for inspection and then into training.
In watches of five, we started with basic hose drills, followed by more hose drills, then after lunch, more hose drills followed by a hose drill to finish of the afternoon and then a hose drill to finish the day, then recovering a runaway branch, which involves crawling along the hose in 6 inches of cold freezing mud, to catch a 3 kilo lump of aluminium that would happily take your head off if given a chance. Then in the shower a bit more classroom then home. OH MY GOD! I have never worked so hard in my life!
DAY 2
Parade at 8.00am, followed by hose drills, more hose drills and more hose drills, guess what we did after lunch? Thats right Ladder drills, portable dams and portable pumps followed by ground monitors!
DAY 3
Level 2 first aid, all day.
As a total surprise to us all on the course, we were greeted by a special guest. Fire Fighter Cameron Grylls. Those of you not that upto date with the New Zealand Fire Service, will not have heard of Cameron. He was one of the Fire Fighters injured in the April 2008 Tamahere Coolstore Fire. Cameron is also a registered nurse and has just finished his first aid trainers course and the NZFS decided we could be his first guinea pigs.
After an emotional welcome in the morning, lunch was followed by a question and answer session that lastest about an hour, we were all in total awe of a man who chose to protect life and property of other people and almost paid the ultimate price. Our deepest sympathies go to all those injured at the Tamahere fire and to the family and friends of SSO Derek Lovell, who died in the explosion.
SO, passed first aid and onto day 4, breathing apparatus training!
DAY 4
Breathing apparatus (BA) training day 1 of 3. Probably the most least looked forward to element of the course.
After some morning theory training it was onto the BATB, Breathing apparatus training building.
BATB!!BATB is a four storey, gas heated to 80 degrees celsius, training building. Loaded with obstacle courses and stairs and stuff, all the normal things you encounter in a burning building.
Day 1 consisted of 5 wearings, completing the obstacle course, search and rescue techniques, air maximisation and breathing techniques. Gas suit training, Entry control and equipment doning procedures.
Day2 was much the same but harder drills, but the experience gained in day 1 carried us through.
Day 3 and we moved to Rotorua Fire Station and RFTB!
The Realistic Fire Training Building is located in the bottom of the training tower, and is basically a giant concrete box with a log fire in the corner.I was slightly very bloody scared. Standing in a building with BA on while the instructor lit a fire and we stand there as smoke fills the room. Take the mask of and take one breath and you DIE! It reached 410 degrees celsius in there by the end of the day, bloody hot. We did 4 wearings that day and by the end of it I was disappointed that I couldn't do more, I loved it and was never really that scared. The sight of fire did not seem to bother me, I just focused on completeing the task at hand.
DAY 7
Back to the NTC and one last day of theory, a few more parcticle demonstrations on foam application, fire extinguishers and ejector pumps, don't ask, you won't understand, and then one final drill involving all the knowledge we had gathered over the last six days, culminating in me making access to the third floor window via a ladder wearing full BA, in torrential rain. Window was about 7-8metres high and I am very scared of heights, slightly less now though!
Job done.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
car fire
Car on fire, Tauranga Direct Road, Hamurana, 15th June 2008, 3.25am.
got up in the middle of the night, Made the first truck, yeah. Car on fire by the side of the road, looks like it was stolen and torched.
Helped with high pressure hose, road cones and making car safe.
Packed up and back in bed by 4.30am
got up in the middle of the night, Made the first truck, yeah. Car on fire by the side of the road, looks like it was stolen and torched.
Helped with high pressure hose, road cones and making car safe.
Packed up and back in bed by 4.30am
Saturday, June 14, 2008
motor vehicle accident (MVA)
Hamurana, 11th June 2008, 2.03am.
Car versus fence, my first car accident, quite nervy. turned out to be a single car accident, one female occupant was injured and taken to hospital.
Assisted in putting lady on stretcher, running out hose and moving the car to a safe spot.
Back home by 3.30am.
Car versus fence, my first car accident, quite nervy. turned out to be a single car accident, one female occupant was injured and taken to hospital.
Assisted in putting lady on stretcher, running out hose and moving the car to a safe spot.
Back home by 3.30am.
fire call
Building fire, Rotorua, 9th June 2008, 11.39am.
I was at work when this call came through, but with it being a three truck call, I started to make my way out the door but received a 'stand down' page, so returned to work.
I was at work when this call came through, but with it being a three truck call, I started to make my way out the door but received a 'stand down' page, so returned to work.
Fire call
Scrub fire, 7th June 2008, 12.20pm, Ngongotaha.
At last a big one. Again my duty weekend so I was on the first truck. Nice big scrub fire on some local farm land that had been cleared of shruberies and the ensuing bonfire got blown out of control setting fire to the hillside. I assisted in setting up the forestry packs and water supply.
Then one of my watch, Brian, called for assistance, and I promptly spent the next two hours on the end of the branch (nozzle) fighting the fire.
Once all the fire was out, we packed up and returned to station to restock the trucks, clean all the gear and then go home.
Returned home 5 hours after leaving.
It was bloody good fun, but very hard work.
fire call
chimney fire, ngongotaha, 6th June 2008, 7.16pm,
Made the first truck as it was my duty weekend, appeared to be a cloud of sparks from a chimney, no fire. Neighbour saw the sparks and called the station, nice bloke to have living next to you.
Made the first truck as it was my duty weekend, appeared to be a cloud of sparks from a chimney, no fire. Neighbour saw the sparks and called the station, nice bloke to have living next to you.
fire call
House fire, Tihiotonga, 5th June 2008, 5.36pm.
Again didn't make the truck, so was on station as back up, both trucks were sent back to station as the fire was taken care of before they arrived.
Again didn't make the truck, so was on station as back up, both trucks were sent back to station as the fire was taken care of before they arrived.
fire call - dead body!
Trees on fire, Hamurana Road, Ngongotaha. 5th June 2008, 3.09am.
Didn't get on the truck so stayed at the station as backup. Weird call, when the truck got there, they extinguished the fire and found a dead body on the side of the road. Was a local 61yr old resident, who had tried to fight the fire with a hose pipe and unfortunatly died of a heart attack.
Our sympathies go out to his family and friends.
The fire was just a small bush fire caused by hot embers from a log fire.
Didn't get on the truck so stayed at the station as backup. Weird call, when the truck got there, they extinguished the fire and found a dead body on the side of the road. Was a local 61yr old resident, who had tried to fight the fire with a hose pipe and unfortunatly died of a heart attack.
Our sympathies go out to his family and friends.
The fire was just a small bush fire caused by hot embers from a log fire.
fire call
Next was a call on Friday 30th May 2008, smell of smoke. 6.57pm.
we drove around for just over an hour and found nothing. Was a good ride in the truck though.
Rotorua were attending a fire at a local wood mill, so we were covering for them.
we drove around for just over an hour and found nothing. Was a good ride in the truck though.
Rotorua were attending a fire at a local wood mill, so we were covering for them.
fire call
I attended a fire on 22nd May 2008, at 12.03am.
It was a shed/garage fire, I was on the first truck. I assisted with running out hose, general stuff and then spent time packing all the stuff back into the truck afterwards.
For my first call, it was very exciting, even if I didn't do a lot.
The lady whose shed it was, very kindly donated $200 to the fire service last week, we all appreciate her generosity.
It was a shed/garage fire, I was on the first truck. I assisted with running out hose, general stuff and then spent time packing all the stuff back into the truck afterwards.
For my first call, it was very exciting, even if I didn't do a lot.
The lady whose shed it was, very kindly donated $200 to the fire service last week, we all appreciate her generosity.
some more information
so, like I said, we have two trucks, each has a call sign, 821 and 822, not sure of makes and models or specifications, 822 is being replaced this week with 821 and we are getting a new 821.
8229 is our minibus, which contains some equiptment for fire fighting, it is a 3.0 diesel turbo toyota hiace.
Our address is:
2 Kokiri Street
Ngongotaha
telephone (07) 357 4085
We have 4 duty crews, red, blue, green and brown. I am in blue watch (the best one). Every Friday from 6pm to Monday morning at 7am, there is a duty crew on call.
Sunday mornings is truck checks, a time to check all the equipment on the trucks etc. do some odd jobs around the station and clean the toilets.
We used to have a siren tower to notify us of a call, it got knocked down in a car crash, so we now just rely on a pager.
The date has come through for my training course, 6-12th july, the training consists of four elements, basic skills, first aid, fire ground tactics and the most terrifying, breathing apparatus (BA).
BA traing consists of entering a burning building (training tower) and finding a dead body (dummy) all with fire licking your helmet and an interior temperature of 800 degrees plus or maybe less.
I'll let you know how it all goes in a future post.
8229 is our minibus, which contains some equiptment for fire fighting, it is a 3.0 diesel turbo toyota hiace.
Our address is:
2 Kokiri Street
Ngongotaha
telephone (07) 357 4085
We have 4 duty crews, red, blue, green and brown. I am in blue watch (the best one). Every Friday from 6pm to Monday morning at 7am, there is a duty crew on call.
Sunday mornings is truck checks, a time to check all the equipment on the trucks etc. do some odd jobs around the station and clean the toilets.
We used to have a siren tower to notify us of a call, it got knocked down in a car crash, so we now just rely on a pager.
The date has come through for my training course, 6-12th july, the training consists of four elements, basic skills, first aid, fire ground tactics and the most terrifying, breathing apparatus (BA).
BA traing consists of entering a burning building (training tower) and finding a dead body (dummy) all with fire licking your helmet and an interior temperature of 800 degrees plus or maybe less.
I'll let you know how it all goes in a future post.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Introduction
This blog is my personal account of my time with the Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Service, it is not authorised by the New Zealand Fire Service, any information contained in the blog is not to be taken as statement of fact or the opinion or view of the New Zealand Fire Service.
I will try to list all calls that I attend and some details, if allowed, of the call. More importantly I will keep you updated on my training and the tasks I undertake at calls.
The Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Service is manned by volunteers from the local community, we commit our own time for training, calls, fund raising and to raise awareness of the risks and the prevention of fire. We do not receive any payment or reward.
We have two trucks, details to follow, and one mini bus/backup vehicle. We train for two hours on a Monday night.
Up until this date, I have not attended many fire calls, must be a quiet time for fires!! The few calls I have been on are:
Garage fire - Ngongotaha - 12.03am 22/05/08
Smell of smoke - Mangakakahi - 6.57pm 30/05/08
There are other calls in between, but I couldn't attend.
I hope you all enjoy reading about the service, if you want to donate any money to the Station you can contact us.
I will try to list all calls that I attend and some details, if allowed, of the call. More importantly I will keep you updated on my training and the tasks I undertake at calls.
The Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Service is manned by volunteers from the local community, we commit our own time for training, calls, fund raising and to raise awareness of the risks and the prevention of fire. We do not receive any payment or reward.
We have two trucks, details to follow, and one mini bus/backup vehicle. We train for two hours on a Monday night.
Up until this date, I have not attended many fire calls, must be a quiet time for fires!! The few calls I have been on are:
Garage fire - Ngongotaha - 12.03am 22/05/08
Smell of smoke - Mangakakahi - 6.57pm 30/05/08
There are other calls in between, but I couldn't attend.
I hope you all enjoy reading about the service, if you want to donate any money to the Station you can contact us.
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