MVP Hose Packs 16.5.12
Video - Hose on the bight!

A Firefighting Adventure in 4D 16.5.12
Movie - not coming to a theatre near you!

All hands to the pumps 15.5.12
Volunteer fire-fighters on day three of a four-day training course were handling hoses and learning how to operate the water pump of an appliance at Taylor River in Blenheim near the Hutcheson St bridge yesterday morning. The scenario was good practice for a big rural fire...

Firefighter urges people to volunteer 14.5.12
Helping rural neighbours keep their properties safe from fire danger was a job everyone in Maraekakaho volunteered for "in the old days" recalls Joe Simmons. "It goes back to when we were kids, it's the sort of thing you just did. When there was a fire everyone went to help with anything we had at the time, like sacks and bits and pieces, bugger all really," Mr Simmons said. The 63 year old has been a volunteer with.....

Huge bonfire burns near Alexandra 14.5.12
Fire crews spent more than an hour at a fire near Alexandra tonight. Alexandra chief fire officer Russell Anderson said emergency services were called to the fire at a Letts Gully Rd address about 9.30pm. Because there was a restricted fire season in place, all fires in the area required a permit, but the blaze - amongst some tree stumps and a pile of timber - did not have one, he said. One fire truck from Alexandra was assisting the Central Otago Rural Fire Service, which had one tanker and an appliance at the scene, he said. ''Because it's a tree stump and a bit of a pile of timber, there's going to be a bit of heat in it so it's going to burn for awhile … We're just trying to take the bulk of the heat out of it.''

Need for unit evident: SAR 12.5.12
However, the multi-purpose idea has hit a snag. The Rural Fire Authority says the unit would not be suitable, nor would it fit its emergency radios, but Mr Firman said he hoped that would not affect a $25,000 pledge - still to be confirmed - the Waitaki District Council had made to the project....

Volunteer rural fire fighters to be honoured 11.5.12
Hastings volunteer rural fire fighters will be recognised at an awards ceremony next week. The Forest and Rural Fire Association of New Zealand will present long service medals to 43 members who have each contributed between three and 40 years service to the organisation. Special awards go to....

Fire Awareness Training - in demand for Wood Panels industry 11.5.12
Two fatal explosions killed four men and injured dozens more when pine beetle dust exploded during dry wood processing in British Columbia recently (Friday Offcuts May 4th, 2012).  When fine wood dust floats around in the air it can be ignited by an event, like a spark from a tool. The wood dust burns very quickly and produces gas, which in turn creates an explosion. This causes a chain reaction as the small explosion shakes more dust and creates a bigger explosion causing major damage to the surrounding area. Dust explosions...

2012 FRFANZ Conference information  10.5.12

Council urged to halt wilding pines invasion 9.5.12
Central Otago District Council will decide today whether to do battle against wilding pines. A contingent of Wakatipu-based wilding pine warriors will give the council a clear message: Get on top of this noxious pest now before the problem becomes to hard to handle. The Wakatipu Wilding Conifers Control Group is active in removing pines in the Queenstown Lakes District and it is seeking support from the Central Otago council to develop a joint control strategy across the districts. Queenstown Lakes District Council forester Briana Pringle, who will speak....

Fire delays train services 8.5.12
Rail services along the coastline of Matata were delayed on Monday as fire fighters battled for almost two hours to control a scrub fire at Pikowai. Firefighters from Te Puke, Pukehina, Matata and Whakatane rural fire attended the 100m by 50m blaze that broke out at about 2pm...

NZ Rural Fire Research Workshop 12.3.12
Will be held 14/15 June at Scion in Rotorua. Draft programme is available.