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31 December 2011
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Emergency Tree Trimming, Royal Oak
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document.write("Today’s pre-breakfast call was to Mount Albert Road, Royal Oak, where a tree had fallen across the road, blocking half the carriageway. A large section of the aging pine tree may have given up under a combination of added weight of saturated foliage and wind gusts caused by prolonged rainfall and blustery conditions. Members created a false centre line on Mount Albert Road to separate conflicting traffic until aborists arrived and chopped up the fallen limbs. ");
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30 December 2011
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The Honour Guard poses with Lynley and Joel McNickle
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document.write("Brigade member Joel McNickle was wed to Lynley Collis this afternoon in a ceremony at the Auckland Botanic Garden. Best man and brother of the bride, Phil Collis, is also one of our members. A large number of the couple’s relatives and friends braved threatening stormy weather to witness the ceremony, transferred from the gardens to a large pergola. Members of the Brigade formed a guard of honour as the newlyweds emerged from formalities. ");
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27 December 2011
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Little could be saved of the Waiatarua house
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document.write("The Brigade has now responded to 8 calls since 24th December: long-time members can’t recall a busier Christmas season. And in these times when the Brigade attends all kinds of emergencies - notably motor accidents - it’s notable that all 8 calls have been to fires, and serious ones at that. The series began early on Christmas Eve with an apartment fire in Mt Eden and continued with house fires in Favona and St Heliers. We also responded to houses on fire in 3 locations at the extremities of our Brigade’s prime coverage area – at Orere Point (in the far East), Torbay (North) and Waiatarua (West). Then there were 2 fires, 24 hours apart, in business premises in the industrial part of Otahuhu. Towering smoke from yesterday’s major house fire at Waiatarua, high in the Waitakere Ranges, could be seen from all over Auckland. Forest Hill Road was closed for more than 3 hours by members, assisted by Titirangi colleagues, to give fire appliances unimpeded passage to and from a roadside water hydrant on the lower slopes. ");
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25 December 2011
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document.write("7 members of the Brigade had an early start to Christmas Day when they responded to their pagers just after 5am, turning them out to the 4th serious dwelling fire in Auckland in two days. An elderly woman’s in hospital after being rescued from the blaze. Her unit, in an off-street “village” in Mt Roskill, was badly damaged by the flames. Firefighters confined the fire to the single unit, one of 7 in a block. 3 other fires occurred on December 24, causing major damage to houses at Orere Point and in Favona, and to a flat in Mt Eden, from which an occupant was hospitalised. ");
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24 December 2011
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Favona house fire
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document.write("Members turned out to the 3rd serious fire of the day when a house caught alight in the south Auckland suburb of Favona. The call escalated to a 2nd Alarm when it was found the two-storied dwelling was well involved: the top floor was destroyed, the lower floor severely damaged by smoke, heat and water. Callers phoning 111 to report the fire said the blaze had spread to the house next door but luckily damage to it was confined to melted plastic weatherboards and spouting and a few cracked windows.
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24 December 2011
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Flames consumed all within the Mt Eden flat
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document.write("Members were called to 2 structure fires in the early part of Christmas Eve. In Mount Eden a two-storied flat caught fire just before 3am: all within it was consumed by flames before firefighters could get it under control. The damaged flat was one of 7 in a block, part of an off-street “village” of more than 20 apartments. Among other duties on the scene, Operational Support - together with St John - worked to get residents returned to their flats as soon as possible and to find alternative accommodation for those from apartments affected by the fire. Not long after returning home from this blaze, the Brigade responded to a house fire at the very Eastern extremities of our patch, at Orere Point on the Firth of Thames. Similarly, the place was badly damaged. ");
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21 December 2011
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document.write("Members get themselves into the season of the year by attending Christmas street parades to ensure the elderly gent in red is safely ushered into local communities. Part of the brigade’s fundraising effort, members assisted with traffic management at 4 major parades this year where Santa arrived on a variety of transports... including by boat with fishing rods and all. But there were no worries about the tide being in – the fizz boat was on a trailer towed behind a car along the parade route! Then members attending a serious house fire at Titirangi found that Christmas presents were among items they were salvaging. The gifts made it out, a little wet and with a touch of smoke damage, but intact. ");
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6 December 2011
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document.write("The United Nations has just published a new report on volunteerism to coincide with Volunteers’ Day 2011 and to celebrate 10 years since the first International Year of the Volunteer (IYV). Launching the new report at her New York HQ, Administrator of the UN Development Programme, Helen Clark, said the report finds that volunteerism is truly international in nature and, among other beneficial outcomes, it empowers people to build better lives. “The values driving volunteerism are universal...” Ms Clark says” ...a desire and motivation to contribute to the common good out of free-will, in a spirit of solidarity and without expectation of material reward. Even though, some countries have not yet factored volunteerism into strategic thinking about development.” Newer members of the Brigade will soon receive a medal to celebrate IYV 2011 while those with 10 years’ service will get a bar to the medal issued in 2001. ");
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15 November 2011
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document.write("Fire destroyed resource rooms at Churchill Park Primary School, Glendowie, early this morning, the fire-fight escalating to a Third Alarm. Fire-fighters cut off flames before they reached surrounding classrooms but not before a block was lost which housed the school library and IT facilities, including computers. Water had to be brought in from hydrants about a hundred meters away to the burning building in the school grounds, at the end of a long access road on the fringe of the park. Members assisted at the ICP, with fireground duties and staffed the Brigade’s canteen. And for one member, Station Officer Peter Duncan, attendance at the Third Alarm seemed a fitting way to mark 35 continuous years since he joined the group on 15 November 1976. Another member, Forbes Neil, celebrates the same milestone today. ");
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6 November 2011
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document.write("The conductor for the improvised cacophonous orchestra gave the word over the PA, preparing 30 or more instruments assembled on the playing fields at Pukekohe Intermediate School to give their special, one-off, performance. No musical score, no formal rehearsal... but it took just one emphatic, perfectly-timed signal from the conductor and the players in all the big red trucks immediately responded, improvisation at its best, their instruments all at once playing “Air for Lights and Siren” specially composed for Federal, Motorola, Code 3 and similar instruments. The music was accompanied by a light show. Although these instruments are generally known for their impromptu solo performances, each was turned on with such feeling and obvious enjoyment, that they all soon, somehow, seemed to harmonise, the musical notes flowing from the appliances, across the playing fields, and on, shared by an enormous audience all over Pukekohe township. It was only a short performance, but signalled a fitting finale to the afternoon’s celebrations to mark Pukekohe Volunteer Fire Brigade’s centenary. The more than 30 fire appliances had earlier paraded through the town’s main street, crowded with well-wishers, before the vehicles gathered at the intermediate school for a public display. Some of our members participated in the parade with several of the Unit’s vehicles, others assisted with traffic management while another entered the historic occasion driving his vintage fire engine. ");
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30 October 2011
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document.write("Members responded to their first call under their new name Operational Support this morning with an alert to a major blaze in the old tavern in the small rural settlement of Otaua, south of Waiuku. Fire swept through the roof of the former pub which has been unoccupied and not trading for some years. Members turned out to the 2nd Alarm response, travelling to the fire which, in Otaua on the fringes of the Aka Aka wetlands, is in the southern extremity of our patch. The blaze was contained within an hour but firefighters remained for some time, extinguishing hotspots. The last call attended by members under their former name, Fire Police, occurred early yesterday morning when they turned out to a house well alight in Manurewa. Member, QFF (OS) Dion Rosario, had the distinction of driving the same rapid response vehicle to both calls... except that yesterday it was known as Fire Police 5 while henceforth it’ll be called Operational Support 3. ");
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29 October 2011
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NZFS Commission Board Member, Vicki Caisley, addressing guests at tonight's function.
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document.write("The name Fire Police disappeared in Auckland tonight following a function to mark the transition to Operational Support. Members of the Unit each received a certificate which effectively discharged them from their oath as constables and welcomed them into the newly named entity, Operational Support. A member of the board of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission, Vicki Caisley, was on hand to witness the transition. She thanked members for their volunteering and support as Fire Police and wished them well in their newly-named organisation. Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal said the Unit was going out on a high – two recent events, the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake and the Rugby World Cup, were examples of a job taken on by members with exemplary results. The words Fire Police will no longer be seen or heard in Auckland with changes to uniform, signage on vehicles, radio call signs, the website and stationery...all updated to Operational Support. Members now have new ranks and they received new insignia at tonight’s function. Visitors to the website will notice not only a change in name and URL but additions and improvements to the content, and of course we have added a new milestone: the transformation to Operational Support. ");
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24 October 2011
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Rugby World Cup duties: the extended Fire Police fleet, Sept/Oct 2011
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document.write("Last night’s clash between France and the All Blacks to decide the winner of the Rugby World Cup signaled the end of special duties for Auckland Fire Police. For each game played in Auckland, either at Eden Park or North Shore Stadium, there have been 2 crews and vehicles rostered on standby at Regional HQ in Auckland city. As far as is known, this was the first time crews have been “on station” rather than, as normal, responding from their homes, workplaces, etc. In addition to these crews, “business as usual” was maintained with normal weekend rosters providing coverage across the Region. “Every available member of the Unit was part of this special deployment and our routine rostering” says Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal, “and, together, our members put in more than 700 person-hours during the six weeks of the tournament”. At least 95,000 visitors from overseas were in town for the final games – Auckland’s numbers swelled by the equivalent of another Palmerston North, or twice Whanganui’s population, or three times that of Timaru. “Like all public utilities,” Glenn says, “we had a plan, part of New Zealand Fire Service’s Event Management Strategy, prepared and ready to support Fire and other emergency services during the biggest undertaking ever hosted by New Zealand”. ");
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18 October 2011
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The Guard of Honour in Ponsonby Road this afternoon
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document.write("One of Auckland’s busiest main arterial routes, heart of up-market restaurants and home of the latte, Ponsonby Road, came to a standstill for a few minutes today as local firefighters farewelled one of their own making his Last Call. 30 year old Meki Ta'ufo'ou had, until recently, been stationed at Ponsonby. His death after a short illness shocked colleagues - hundreds of firefighters, family members and friends gathered to farewell him at his “home” station. After the funeral service led by Brigade Chaplain, the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, the Rt Rev Ross Bay, it was time for QFF Ta’ufo’ou to turn out for the last time, summoned by the station’s alarm, conveyed on a vintage fire engine and flanked by firefighters who formed a Guard of Honour along Ponsonby Road. Fire Police undertook traffic management. ‘Alu a e, Meki. ");
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13 October 2011
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Station wagon vs tree. The felled tree's roots are seen to the right
\"Cones for Africa\" creating temporary lanes at the Ranui crash
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document.write("Members mounted a traffic management operation in Ranui this morning to assist morning commuters. Rather than road closures at the scene of a single vehicle accident on Swanson Road, Fire Police created temporary lanes near Airdrie Road so that traffic could continue to flow without disturbing the scene and endangering police who were investigating the crash. A station wagon, earlier sought by police, clipped a traffic island and, out of control, crossed the road, mounted the footpath and crashed into a tree, uprooting it. Firefighters freed the occupants, some badly injured. Two Fire Police vehicles attended: they were both stripped of every cone they carried, enabling the temporary traffic management to be put in place. ");
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10 October 2011
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The damaged shop verandah in Mt Albert is made safe
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document.write("Members responded to an accident at the busy intersection of Mt Albert Road and New North Road in Mt Albert after a truck collided with a shop’s verandah. The truck struck the edge of the verandah above the kerb-line, tearing down a section of the canopy. No one was injured but the Fire Service’s specialist heavy rescue tender from Papatoetoe was required to prop up the verandah to prevent further collapse. Members closed the footpaths and managed traffic around the emergency service vehicles until the scene was inspected and made safe. A second incident later in the day, also involving a truck, occupied members for much longer in South Auckland where a trailer had became disengaged from its tractor unit. This resulted in a diesel spill as well as disruption to traffic in Walmsley Road. Members responded with two Fire Police vehicles and maintained traffic management until the spill was cleared up and the vehicles removed. ");
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30 September 2011
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Taylor's Drycleaners: scene of today's 3rd Alarm
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document.write("Taylor’s Drycleaners in Glen Eden has suffered major damage in an early-morning 3rd Alarm fire. The company, part of the international Spotless Group, is a commercial laundry and dry cleaners and handles cleaning for many commercial and industrial concerns including healthcare and hospitality sectors. Firefighters arriving at the premises, in a cul de sac off Great North Road, found they were well alight and began the fire-fight which was to include 3 aerial appliances. Members provided a full range of support services including the attendance of the Canteen and Ablutions Trailer. ");
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11 September 2011
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Stair climb team 2011: Matt Walker, Hayden Chisnall, Ross Bay, Aroha Muriwai, Mark Biesheuvel
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document.write("A team of 5 members from our Unit took part in this year’s September 11 memorial stair-climb up 28 floors of the BNZ Tower on Queen Street. The climb day is timed to coincide with the anniversary of the World Trade Centre attack in which 343 firefighters died. This year marks 10 years since the tragic event. But the remembering of NZ firefighters who have died on duty is a further focus of the day. The names of all NZ personnel known to have died in the service of their communities were read out, dating back to the 1800s. Fire Police SSO Ross Bay led the team of Mark Biesheuvel, Hayden Chisnall, Aroha Muriwai and Matt Walker. In his capacity as Bishop of Auckland, Ross also offered prayers in memory of the fallen before the event began. Each person climbing carries a name tally in memory of a fallen 9/11 crew. Around 100 firefighters took part, from as far away as Kamo in Northland and Christchurch in the south. ");
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9 September 2011
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document.write("The Unit’s members are ready for additional duties involved with the Rugby World Cup (RWC), with rostered duties starting this evening which will be repeated every night there’s a fixture at either of Auckland’s RWC venues. Rostered members and vehicles will be strategically stationed at Fire Region Headquarters, ready to respond in support of firefighters to any emergency events at the RWC stadiums, the fan zones or along the Fan Trail. Practically every member has been rostered as part of the RWC crewing, most will be scheduled on several nights. This will amount to more than 700 person hours before the tournament’s over. And all those members not specifically rostered to RWC are expected to assist, maintaining “business as usual” at emergency calls throughout the Greater Auckland. “First indications are that there are going to be massive crowds on Auckland’s waterfront for celebrations as well as at Eden Park for the first game” says Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal “so it appears we were right to prepare and be ready to get access to these congested venues.” ");
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5 September 2011
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document.write("Members tonight attended a special briefing in preparation for extra duties connected with the six-week-long Rugby World Cup (RWC) tournament in Auckland. “Everyone in the Unit will be involved”, said Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal, “most members are on the special RWC roster but all members must continue to contribute to business-as-usual at other call-outs which, for September/October average 75.” It’s the biggest single undertaking by Fire Police, the first time members have been rostered on standby duties – they’ll be stationed at the Unit’s Headquarters in Auckland City ready to respond to incidents connected with the RWC in the vicinity of stadiums, fan zones and along the Fan Trail. 2 additional vehicles have been allocated to Fire Police for these tasks. “Our duties will need to be slightly adapted and extended to provide best support services in areas where huge crowds and traffic congestion can be expected” says CFO Teal, “but we will be ready.” ");
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4 September 2011
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Mark is presented with the trophy from ADFBSA President, Lewis Trickett
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document.write("Our member Mark Potter today won the Auckland Fire Brigades’ Sub District Association’s Driving Challenge held at Ardmore Airport. The other entrant from the Unit, Nigel Hohaia, was placed fourth. Both competed against drivers from other Brigades in a number of events to test their skills behind the wheel, and then there were questions to be answered about traffic law. The disused runway at Ardmore proved an ideal venue, the first time the Challenge has been held there. Congratulating the two, Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal says that the Unit’s proud of both our entrants – “it shows the Unit is right up there when it comes to driving standards and expertise\". ");
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2 September 2011
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The plaque from fire-fighters at Christchurch Central Station
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document.write("The Unit’s services in Canterbury during the aftermath of February’s big earthquake have been further recognised with the receipt of a plaque from fire-fighters at Christchurch’s Central Station. Fire Police operations in the ruined city were centred at their station, even though parts of it had been damaged, disrupting water and sewerage. With the appliances removed outside, the station was converted to a 24 x 7 dining room for the many fire-fighters serving in the city and suburbs. Fire Police 8, the Unit’s mobile canteen, was part of the operation. Career crews from central station had their meals at the temporary dining room for several weeks, and they have recognised “... the outstanding assistance given…” by Auckland Fire Police. The New Zealand Fire Service Commission has also thanked members from the Unit for services rendered in Canterbury following the earthquake. ");
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13 August 2011
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Right Reverend Ross Bay leads today's Service
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document.write("Members of the Unit were among those who gathered at Waikumete Cemetery today to re-dedicate Rholda Beuth’s grave, recently refurbished by the N.Z. Ex Firefighters’ Association. The service was led by the Association’s Chaplain – and member of Auckland Fire Police – Anglican Bishop of Auckland, Right Reverend Ross Bay. In 1928 Fireman/Driver Rholda Beuth, aged 22, was among those attending a blaze at a waterfront storage depot involving half a million liters of petrol and oil. During fire-fighting operations there was an explosion, falling debris enveloped Rholda Beuth who received severe burns and he died later in hospital. Those present at today’s graveside service included Auckland Deputy Mayor, Penny Hulse, NZFS staff, fire police, past fire-fighters and a representative of the Beuth family. ");
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11 August 2011
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document.write("Unit Member, Hamish Kyle, has been selected to contribute in a nation-wide reference group considering the sustainability of volunteers in the New Zealand Fire Service. The group’s participation is the next step in a major project managed by Rachel De Haas from National Headquarters. “We received a great many nominations” she says, “and from them we have selected those who represent the diversity of the volunteer membership”. Hamish will be one of 11 in the group and among responsibilities will be to take the group’s thinking and proposals to peers to gain their views and input into projects. ");
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26 July 2011
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document.write("It was a coincidence against all odds, but the Unit assisted at 2 motor accidents within 8 hours, and a block, of each other, in Pukekohe today. Emergency services were first called to Harris Road at lunchtime after a car collided with a tree. The 2 elderly women occupants were trapped in the wreckage: they both died. Members assisted police with traffic management which turned out to be a long-duration call while investigators looked into the cause of the crash. And this evening there was a further alert to Harris Street - and to another motor accident, this time between two cars near Queen Street. 2 persons were trapped, extricated by fire-fighters, but are thought to be not seriously hurt. Auckland Fire Police again responded to Pukekohe and provided traffic management. ");
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25 July 2011
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Auckland and Silverdale Fire Police at today’s function
DCFO Ric Carlyon pictured with Vicki Caisley after the presentation
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document.write("The Unit was among groups at a Fire Service function held today to recognise and thank those from Auckland who assisted in Canterbury following the major earthquake there earlier this year. A number of Auckland and Silverdale members who volunteered and travelled to help in Christchurch attended today’s presentation. Member of the Fire Service Commission, Vicki Caisley, presented a certificate of appreciation to representatives of 7 local groups, including Fire Police. She said the Commission wants to acknowledge exceptional contributions made by both career staff and volunteers as they assisted the people of Christchurch. The Fire Service’s National Commander and Chief Executive, Mike Hall, said it had been a nation-wide effort requiring all the Service’s resources – made easier by the benefit of being a single national fire entity. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Ric Carlyon accepted the certificate on behalf of the Unit. ");
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20 July 2011
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Recruits' assessment at Mt Wellington Training Centre
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document.write("The Unit has five new full members. At the monthly meeting CFO Glenn Teal announced that the five - Philip Collis, Mark Foster, Paul Halverson, Stuart Taylor and Shaun Williams - had met all requirements for promotion and four were presented with their blue operational helmet. (Shaun Williams was absent, returning from duties at the international Road Crash Rescue Challenges in Upper Hutt). The recruits had attended a recent session for assessment on core Fire Police competencies as part of their qualification towards full member status. The drills included sinking/shipping a standpipe, establishing water supply, use of hose-ramps, generators, portable lighting plant and traffic management. Exercises were followed by question-and-answer sessions on each of the competencies. The results of both practical tests and exams were combined with feedback from Officers and records of attendance at callouts and training. All five probationers graduated. ");
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19 July 2011
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document.write("Two members have been elected to the Unit’s Management Forum and will take their places at the its meeting. There were two vacancies, the first when SO Andrew Galloway stood down after his promotion to officer, the second following FPC Tim Dickinson’s resignation from the Forum. After an election at a Special General Meeting SO Galloway was returned to the Forum, joined by the other successful candidate, FPC Mark Potter. Welcoming them to the Forum, Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal said he looks forward to both continuing tasks they are already responsible for. In Andrew’s case he’s overseeing refurbishment of the Unit’s rooms in Regional Headquarters’ building and assists with recruiting while Mark is the webmaster looking after the Unit’s website. ");
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14 July 2011
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Just add \"patients\" and another scenario's ready to go at the RCR
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document.write("2 members have taken duties as officials at the International Road Crash Rescue Challenge which began today in Upper Hutt. John Kerr and Shaun Williams drove south in Auckland’s former command unit which is acting as control centre at the Challenge, where Shaun’s helping out. John is assisting in the pits at the scenarios. The world’s top competitors are attending, from as far afield as Russia, Britain and Spain, together with 6 local teams. The event’s hosted by the United Fire Brigades Association and the New Zealand Fire Service. More than a hundred vehicles have been crushed and bent in readiness for the challenges, some of them brand new “test” Holden cars imported from Australia, donated for the purpose. John and Shaun return in the former command unit on Monday. ");
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11 July 2011
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One of the weekend calls... the badly damaged Mt Roskill house
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document.write("Fire in a 24-hour self-service laundry in Grey Lynn shopping area at 4.15 this morning rounded off a busy weekend for the Unit’s members with 8 call-outs. Friday night began with 2 house fires, just an hour apart, the first in Freemans Bay the other in Herne Bay. On Saturday afternoon there was a response to a serious motor accident in Wairau Valley followed by a turn out to another car crash in Helensville. In the early evening members attended a long-duration job, assisting with lighting, salvage and canteen duties at a second alarm fire in a classroom/office at Mangere College. On Sunday evening a blaze severely damaged a house in Mt Roskill. Members were responding again, just after 3am today to a motor vehicle accident in Blockhouse Bay resulting in a pole down and wires across the road. And just as they were concluding duties at that call they were paged and went on to the laundry fire in Grey Lynn. ");
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9 July 2011
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Fire Police busy with salvage at Mangere College
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4 July 2011
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Personnel gather for the debriefing, Southdown Exercise
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document.write("60 Fire Police and Operational Support personnel from 4 units - Waiatarua, Titirangi, Silverdale and Auckland - combined for an exercise tonight held in the remains of the former Southdown Freezing Works in Penrose. Scenarios included lighting, 3 elements of salvage, establishing water supply and making portable dams, giving first aid, ICP duties and mapping while the Canteen provided an evening meal. “The old Works, where twice there were major fires requiring greater alarms, provides a great venue for training” says organiser of the exercises, SO Chris England, “ideal for multiple simultaneous situations, much like the real thing”. Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, says the training programme provided excellent practical learning opportunities for recent recruits and valuable revision exercises for other members. ");
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23 June 2011
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document.write("The Unit has already made its mark during Volunteer Awareness Week with a full front-page spread in Aucklander newspaper plus a follow-up article explaining our everyday volunteerism assisting the community: 576 callouts last calendar year, to be precise. It’s also appropriate, this week, to recall all those who dedicate their lives to voluntary organisations, the epitome of which was the former Chief Fire Officer of Howick Volunteer Fire Brigade, the late Bob Steward, whose Last Call was Friday. Members will recall he often represented the Gold Star Association at our functions. He had 42 years’ service in the fire service. In 1956 three youths drowned in the bay: as a result citizens wanted a lifeboat service. Bob helped form the Volunteer Howick Sea Rescue, organised, crewed and managed by the local Brigade. It’s still in service today as Howick Coastguard. Bob Steward, QFSM, was a fine example of volunteering at its very best. Somehow fitting that eulogies at his funeral today spoke first of the family man, then as one devoted to his local community, a life appropriately celebrated during Volunteer Awareness Week. ");
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20 June 2011
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CFO Glenn Teal presents Chief Daly with a token of thanks, a NZ CFO’s helmet
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document.write("The Unit’s monthly meeting had a special presentation, the sometimes-poignant inside story of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, recalled by Chief Dan Daly who was a Captain in the FDNY working at what became known as Ground Zero. Chief Daly backed his talk with powerful imagery and an appropriate soundtrack, taking our Members back to the media coverage of 10 years ago but adding his raw, personal account of that day and the days, weeks, and months that followed; events that forever changed his life and the lives of many thousands of people. Chief Daly related his own experience on ‘the pile’ at Ground Zero, the remains of the Twin Towers - 16 acres of debris up to 8 stories high - a narrative which gave our Members a whole new level of understanding that the media and news coverage could not present.Insiders’ tales of sadness, loss and heartache were mingled with true acts of charity and plain-old human kindness from total strangers which made all the difference to the crews tasked with rescue and remarkable recovery efforts. Of note, FDNY lost 343 firefighters that day. The Chaplain from Chief Daly’s firehouse topped the list. Dan Daly is now a professional public speaker - he retired from FDNY in 2002 - and is now dedicated to sharing a message of peace, hope and tolerance, visiting more than 200 communities around the world. ");
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17 June 2011
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Auckland's Canteen in Waikato - lunchtime at USAR exercise
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document.write("3 members of the Unit took the Canteen into the neighbouring Fire Region today to provide catering facilities at an exercise mounted by the Urban Search and Rescue Team. The freezing works at Horotiu was the scene of the drills which had been planned sometime ago but were delayed because of the real thing... the USAR personnel were deployed in Christchurch after the February 22nd earthquake. Hamilton’s volunteer Operational Support team provided lighting for the exercise. ");
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17 June 2011
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document.write("Members attended a persons-trapped motor vehicle accident tonight at which all the elements added up to a testing task. It was a mix of a dark night, wind-blown blinding rain, wet roads, Auckland’s busy East-West arterial route and high traffic speeds. To which must be added additional flows generated by a rugby match at nearby Eden Park. The 3-car crash in Balmoral Road reduced 4 lanes to 2 and all 9 Fire Police personnel attending were kept busy managing traffic by creating temporary lanes until the injured were removed, police arrived and the smashed vehicles were towed away. ");
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6 June 2011
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document.write("The long weekend celebrating the Queen’s Birthday has been busy for the Unit and has featured response to 3 gas leaks. The first is believed to have caused a fatal explosion in excavations in Onehunga on Saturday morning. Members put in more than 220 person hours over the 2 days while emergency services were on site in Mt Smart Road. The second was in Mt Albert, on St Lukes Road, one of Auckland’s main East-West corridors where last night gas, in explosive proportions, was leaking from underground cable ducting. Engineers made it safe by venting while Fire Police managed traffic around the scene. And today’s gas alert was in downtown’s Elliott Street where major road works are underway. Workmen accidentally severed a pipe and the resulting leak spread throughout the immediate area, causing some nearby buildings to be evacuated. Calls to 2 car crashes, one in Half Moon Bay resulting in serious injuries, added to the Unit’s busy weekend. ");
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5 June 2011
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document.write("Fire Police operations at the scene of the fatal underground explosion ended this evening when police and other officials completed their site investigations and handed the excavations and tunnel back to the project’s contractor. Fire Police had attended for more than 31 hours after the initial alarm just after 8am yesterday. After a major-event response and initially assisting with cordons around the incident, Fire Police operations continued around-the-clock staffing the canteen. It remained on site throughout and served scores of hot meals and hundreds of snacks to emergency service workers, investigators and others involved in follow-up to the fatal accident. The Ablutions Trailer was also in service for the duration. “We have just completed what turned out to be a long-duration job,” Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal said tonight, “during which our volunteers have put in more than 220 person-hours supporting all those agencies and organisations on site”. ");
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5 June 2011
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document.write("Fire Police have had a presence for more than 24 hours at the scene of yesterday’s fatal explosion in Mt Smart Road, Onehunga. After completing initial assistance with police to close roads and prevent access to the scene, members have been rostered around-the-clock to crew the Canteen. The team of emergency workers on site has welcomed the service, particularly hot drinks and food during yesterday’s and overnight cold and wet conditions. The Canteen has provided a cooked breakfast for the anticipated additional numbers due on the scene this morning. Fire, police and investigators hope gas levels inside the tunnel will have subsided overnight, allowing them into excavations for the first time since rescues were completed soon after the blast. ");
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4 June 2011
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Rescue workers, with special stretchers, assemble at the tunnel entrance
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document.write("One worker is dead and 6 others injured, some seriously, following the early-morning explosion in a tunnel near Mt Smart Road, Onehunga. The team was installing pipes for Watercare Services, part of a long-term project when an explosion, believed caused by gas, ripped through the excavations. Local residents thought it was an earthquake. Witnesses say clouds of debris blasted from the tunnel, including workers’ helmets. Fire Police responded in numbers, assisting police close roads at numerous blocks ... the canteen and ablution units are on scene. ");
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4 June 2011
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document.write("Members are assisting emergency services at Mt Smart Road, Onehunga following an underground explosion today. Numerous roads surrounding the incident have been closed while emergency services assess the scene to ascertain what has occured. The scene is centred on massive roadworks which have disrupted traffic along Mt Smart Road for some months. The Unit has responded as if it is a major emergency. ");
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1 June 2011
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Unexpected treat: the very fast ute at Ruapuna
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document.write("While our members competing in the Annual Drivers’ Challenge at Ruapuna Raceway found they “have a few points to scrub up on before next year’s event”, one Auckland Fire Police team, Tony Grossart, put in one the fastest times of the day. He was one of 4 out of the field of 47 competitors to win a hot lap of the race track in a modified 2010 Holden Commodore SS Ute, a feature organisers arranged after the conclusion of the Challenge. And a pretty good time was clocked up after the 6 litre V8 Holden stretched out using its 585 horsepower, reaching speeds of just on 200 kph. All 4 lucky winners were impressed with their once-in-a lifetime race track experience. And in the Drivers’ Challenge (run at a much slower pace!) 4 Canterbury fire brigades, between them, took all the titles this year. ");
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21 May 2011
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document.write("Fire Police assisted police patrols to maintain road closures after a mid-afternoon fatal motor vehicle accident on the Waimauku – Muriwai Beach. Because of the rural location and few intersecting roads, a lengthy detour resulted, requiring numerous road blocks set up to isolate the scene. 4 Fire Police teams were widely spread as they staffed the cordons. Some of the injured were taken to hospital by helicopter, but a young man died at the scene. It appeared the car they were in lost control, careered up a roadside bank, hit a tree and tumbled back on to the road. Roadblocks were maintained until police completed their investigations some four hours after the crash. ");
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15 May 2011
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The car lies in the creek, partially submerged in gushing waters, awaiting salvage
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document.write("Members closed Brigham Creek Road, Massey, at the new roundabout on State Highway 16 this afternoon to assist emergency services workers attending a motor vehicle accident at the bridge crossing the Brigham inlet. Two vehicles brushed and one, out of control, careered through a small gap between the bridge’s guard-rail and the hedgerow, crashing through foliage down the 8 metre bank into the creek below. The woman driver was helped in the car by passersby until rescue crews arrived to extricate her, transfer her to special stretcher and carry her up to a waiting ambulance. The road remained closed for several hours until police finished investigations into the cause of the accident. ");
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12 May 2011
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Fire-fighters complete their work from above and below
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document.write("Members responded to a 4th Alarm fire in Papakura business district this afternoon after a blaze swept through a food processing plant in Wood Street. Staffmembers were making tofu at the time... flames quickly spread throughout the factory. Fire Police assisted with the closure of roads, at the command point and staffed the canteen when it arrived. Members will remain on the scene where fire-fighters will be engaged for some hours extinguishing hot spots in the gutted building. ");
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3 May 2011
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The tornado picked up the car from ouside Pak'nsave in the distance and dumped it in another carpark
Auckland and Silverdale Fire Police personnel confer on site
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document.write("Fire Police, with assistance from Silverdale counterparts, attended an emergency on Auckland’s North Shore this afternoon caused by a tornado which left one person dead and multiple patients, some badly hurt. The sudden strong and roaring winds tracked from Albany shopping centre in a path across to Birkenhead before apparently weakening as they crossed the harbour and reached Pt Chevalier. At Albany the tornado lifted a car from one car-park, tossed it across a busy road and dropped it into another car-park. Builders’ portable cabins were thrown about a construction site, one reduced to its steel frame. Another car was picked up from a car-park, thrown into the air and landed through the roof into the old Placemakers’ building. Fire Police closed roads around the worst-hit areas, secured damaged buildings, assisted with command point duties and set up the canteen and the ablutions trailer. Members at a second base, at Birkenhead Fire Station, assisted fire crews who were called to many houses without roofs, with tiles missing or had been damaged by wind-blown trees. All told the combined turnout was 30 fire police members, 3 of whom assisted at Regional Operations Centre which was activated to coordinate activities. ");
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1 May 2011
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document.write("The Unit’s 4 vehicles were attending incidents at the same time this afternoon, the first time this has happened in recent years. Fire Police 5, the Mitsubishi appliance, responded to a serious motor vehicle accident in Saleyards Road, Otahuhu. This proved to be a long duration job - members maintained road closures while police investigated the cause of the collision - so Fire Police 8, the canteen attended. Meanwhile the Unit’s 2 other vehicles had responded to weather-related incidents. Fire Police 4 closed roads around Riddell Road in Glendowie where a tree had blown down while Fire Police 7 went to Glen Eden to put in road blocks in the interest of public safety where tree branches had fallen on to live power wires. A total of 18 members were involved in the 3 incidents. ");
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22 April 2011
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document.write("Motorists taking on power poles seem to be targeting those carrying overhead transformers. In the third similar recent accident, a ute versus pole in Birdwood Road, Massey this evening, the concrete pole, wires and a transformer were brought down blocking the roadway. Members maintained roadblocks for 3 hours on the narrow, winding rural road until relieved by traffic management contractors. Linemen expected to be working most of the night to restore supply. The driver of the ute was shaken but unhurt. ");
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17 April 2011
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The vehicle broke both poles and brought down a transformer causing a widespread power blackout
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document.write("Today’s early morning motor vehicle accident, a station wagon versus power pole in Wolverton Street, Blockhouse Bay, left surrounding suburbs without power and linemen said they would be lucky to get electricity restored much before breakfast time. Members closed Wolverton Street near the New Lynn St John Ambulance Station after the vehicle collided with twin concrete poles bearing high-voltage 11,000 kilowatt wires and an overhead transformer. The impact brought down the transformer: it was imbedded in the footpath. The driver of the station wagon was removed to hospital and Fire Police maintained road closures until the badly damaged vehicle was recovered and the roadway made safe prior to linemen beginning work. ");
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13 April 2011
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Vector staff clamp the damaged gas pipe
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document.write("Members put in multiple road closures mid-afternoon at a hazardous situation in Mt Eden after workmen pierced a gas pipe. Busy Mt Eden Road was closed at St Leonards Road and Duke Street while Landscape Road was also blocked by Fire Police until Vector staff arrived, excavated, found the damaged pipe and clamped it, preparatory to repairs. Meanwhile, the leak roared as it gushed out the hole and vented to the air. All traffic and pedestrians were diverted. The all-clear was given in time for roads to be reopened for evening peak-hour traffic. ");
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9 April 2011
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document.write("The biggest fire in South Auckland in many years has destroyed Bromley Park’s hatchery near Tuakau. The alarm was raised about 3.15pm: members responded and put in the next 10 hours supporting fire-fighting crews who found lack of water at the rural location hampered their best efforts. Unusually for a fire in the country, an aerial appliance and hose-layer were called to bolster a fleet of appliances at the scene. Fire engines and tankers, deployed as a shuttle service, ferried in water from nearby water sources. At the peak of the fire they were arriving at the burning buildings at the rate of 2 every minute. Notwithstanding, the hatchery measuring some 30 x 40 meters was lost in the blaze along with hundreds of thousands of fertilised eggs, which as day-old chicks would normally be distributed nation-wide. ");
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8 April 2011
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document.write("Lunchtime crowds in Auckland's Queen Street witnessed smoke and flames issuing from a window on the second floor of a high rise apartment block - the subsequent fire-fight escalated to a 3rd Alarm. Fire Police assisted with road blocks at the busy intersection of Queen and Wyndham Streets, set up scene protection and carried out Command Point duties. Crowds gathered to watch the action as firefighters got to work with deliveries from inside the building and monitored the situation from two aerial appliances. The apartment appeared gutted. The status was soon reduced to a second alarm but follow-up work by firefighters included salvage. Queen Street was restored to Friday shoppers, and to traffic, by mid-afternoon. ");
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19 March 2011
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document.write("The Unit has another holder of the prestigious Gold Star Medal for 25 years’ service after Richard Kuysten received his coveted award at tonight’s Gold Star Presentation and Honours Evening. Richard’s fire brigade service began in Tokoroa before joining Auckland Fire Police in 1987. It was fitting that the Chief Fire Officer of Tokoroa Volunteer Brigade, David Morris, was among Richard’s invited guests. The medal was presented by former President of the United Fire Brigades’ Association, Chief Fire Officer Graeme Booth, who noted that Richard was eligible for the award sometime ago, but graciously agreed to wait for the Unit’s next Honours night. It’s the 13th Gold Star awarded to current members of the Auckland Fire Police. “This percentage must be a record among volunteer brigades” says the Unit’s Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, who also noted it will be the Fire Police’s last honours function, as such, with the changeover to Operational Support planned later this year. 43 members of the Unit received other awards tonight ranging from certificates for 3 years’ service to a gold bar signifying 37 years. ");
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17 March 2011
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document.write("The Unit’s response to support emergency workers in the aftermath of the tragic Christchurch earthquake has broken records and created some “firsts”.
• First time the Unit’s had the opportunity to respond to a National Emergency, a rare event in New Zealand. It was declared the day after the Unit offered its services.
• Our two trucks turned out to Christchurch, a combined road-and-ferry journey of about 1,000 kilometres, the furthest deployment of a volunteer brigade’s vehicles and personnel in the history of the New Zealand Fire Service.
• The longest single task the Unit’s been involved in with 6 teams rostered by rotation over 20 days, longer than the Unit’s Task Force deployment to the Bay of Plenty earthquake in March 1987.
• First time Auckland Fire Police were joined on an “out of region” call by 2 members of another brigade, Silverdale’s Operational Support, who supplemented the last rotation.
• More than 10,000 Army meals distributed from the make-shift ‘restaurant’ at Christchurch City Fire Station, centred on our mobile Canteen Unit.
• Pallet loads of cold drinks, crates of fresh fruit and immeasurable cups of tea and coffee served.
• Countless showers taken by personnel at Central Police Station in our Ablutions Trailer - police had no alternatives in their headquarters and many were without water supply in their homes.
• About 1,400 person hours clocked up over 22 days by those teams working in Christchurch, and our members who supported them in Auckland ");
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15 March 2011
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Fire almost out: no strawberries or ice cream today!
Fire Police manage traffic on busy State Highway 16
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document.write("Members were called to assist, mid-afternoon, at a fierce fire in Strawberry Gardens and Ice Cream Parlour on State Highway 16, Kumeu. Fire Service attendance equalled a third alarm. The blaze was in a range of out-buildings and spread to hay. Auckland Fire Police, assisted by counterparts from Silverdale, maintained traffic management while a squad of road tankers and fire engines was involved in a shuttle service along the State Highway, fetching fire-fighting water supplies from Whenuapai. Traffic control was also required at the scene of the fire, allowing the tankers and fire engines immediate access in and out of the premises. Traffic management continued throughout the busy evening peak: a new roundabout at the Taupaki Road/Old North Road intersection with SH16 was used to restrict traffic passing the fire scene and to allow tankers an easier run to the blaze. Fire-fighters had to be decontaminated after hazardous materials were discovered on the site. ");
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13 March 2011
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FP8, The Canteen, leads FP7 towing the trailer, on their return from Christchurch
Team Foxtrot, SFPC Turner, SO Nyman, SO Cuthbert and SO England, greeted by CFO Teal
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document.write("This afternoon’s return of Fire Police vehicles from Christchurch signalled the end of the Unit’s participation in the National Emergency declared following the earthquake on February 22nd. The Canteen along with appliance FP7 and the Ablutions Trailer arrived back in Auckland, fetched by Team Foxtrot, the sixth and final group to be deployed in Christchurch. It included 2 members of Silverdale Fire Police. A number of the Unit’s members, including Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal, was on hand at Balmoral Station to welcome home the team and the vehicles. “It’s been a tremendous contribution by the Unit with some very long hours put in by our members over the 20 days of Operation ‘Quake”, he said, “ and it was great that our specialist appliances were readily welcomed and so well-used in Christchurch”. A number of Canteen Assistants gathered at Balmoral Station today to unload and stock-take the Canteen. Because of their long journey all 3 vehicles will be serviced before being re-commissioned. ");
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11 March 2011
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document.write("The final rotation, Team Foxtrot, has arrived in Christchurch to assist with Fire Service operations, based at City Fire Station and at Central Police Station. Activities are winding down now as the main effort in the stricken city turns from Rescue to Recovery. Team Foxtrot will prepare the Fire Police canteen and ablutions trailer for their return to Auckland, and drive back over the weekend, due on Sunday. 6 teams have taken a turn in Christchurch during Operation ‘Quake, a total of 19 members, including 2 from Silverdale Volunteer Fire Brigade. Those assisting at the Canteen have overseen more than 10,000 meals: either served in the make-shift dining room in the engine bay at City Fire Station or distributed to out-stations and emergency services personnel working in the field. ");
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7 March 2011
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document.write("Emergency workers dining at the make-shift facilities at Central Fire Station were surprised... but delighted... with an addition to last night‘s evening meal. Marlin steaks were on the menu: fish caught, donated and transported to Christchurch by the Mercury Bay Big Game Fishing Club. Served with cracker biscuits and garnished with lemon juice, the offering has got to be the most unlikely, but welcomed, delicacy served in the stricken city since the earthquake. There have been many donations of food, drink and other supplies. The United Fire Brigades’ Assoc. had trays of “V” drink surplus when the National Waterway Challenge was cancelled. The drinks were loaded on our Fire Police appliance as it passed through Wellington in the middle of the night, taking the drinks on to Christchurch. Well-wishers have delivered home cooking and supply firms have been generous with their donations. There is still a big demand for refreshments and meals at Central Fire Station - fire-fighters, emergency operations centre staff, security and other workers - although numbers fluctuate according to deployments, tasks and shifts. Fire Police are distributing left-over dry stores to needy residents out in the worst-affected suburbs. Fire-fighters at most Christchurch stations have now been joined by Australian police, one officer to each fire crew, for another phase of SAR operations. The visitors are also using facilities provided at Central Fire Station by our present crew, Team Delta, comprising SSO Len Day and FPCs John Kerr and Patrick Robinson. ");
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3 March 2011
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Ryan Nelsen receives a drink from the canteen
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document.write("Apart from operational firefighters and NZFS staff from the Emergency Operations Centre, there has been a swag of visitors to the canteen. Chairperson of the NZ Fire Service Commission, Dame Margaret Bazley, came to see the facilities and National Commander, Mike Hall, also visited, meeting our members and signed the visitors book. Scores of ranking Officers from National HQ and the Regions also call at the canteen for meals or refreshments. Today Ryan Nelsen of the All Whites toured the complexed and also signed the book. When told it was staffed by Fire Police from Auckland he wrote \"You guys rock !\" Firefighters from the likes of Runanga, Little River, Los Angeles, Wood End, Singapore, and West Melton have been \"clients\", along with Police from many South Island centres. \"Thanks for coming\", \"Great to see Auckland Fire Police here\", \"Well done Auckland\", and a comment from a Policeman \"Better than our grub\". ");
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2 March 2011
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document.write("Today's Nor-Wester, gusty warm winds from over the Canterbury Plains, has brought it's own problems to quake devistated Christchurch today. First, the cross-winds provided tubulance for all aircraft serving the city, including the airbus that took our latest team south. One thing, the bucking and yawing plane provided plenty of rehersal for any aftershocks the team might meet during its tour of duty. Ric Carlyon, Hamish Kyle and Kevin Stillwell are the next Fire Police to serve in Christchurch. The Nor-Wester has delivered clouds of fine grit, the results of liquefication, now dried out, and the wind takes it swirling into just everything. Food is quickly coated with the grains, it gets in your hair, up your nose, and in your eyes and ears. It's one of the trying by-products of the quake. ");
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2 March 2011
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Some of the USA USAR team sign the Canteen's visitors' book
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document.write("With so many firefighters, other NZFS personnel and emergency services staff using the facilities at the Canteen, it was decided by Team Alpha (first team from Auckland Fire Police on the ground in Christchurch – Messres England, Galloway, Hohaia, Mason and Williams) to have a Visitors’ Book. It’s on the servery, available for any user of the canteen’s services to sign. There are so far several pages of names, together with the brigades they belong to. SO Chris England, who instituted the book, says it contains brigades from places he’s never heard of and he’ll need a decent map of the country to work out where some of these small centres are. ");
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1 March 2011
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Antony McVeigh and Hayden Chisnall pay their respects to victims of the earthquake
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document.write("Members of Auckland Fire Police on duty in Christchurch today joined other firefighters and American USAR personnel to remember victims of the recent quake. They took part in a nationwide period of silence at 12:51pm, exactly 1 week after the tragic earthquake stuck. In Auckland, one of our members, the Anglican bishop of Auckland, the RT Rev Ross Bay, participated in a Service of Solidarity held at Holy Trinity Cathedral. One of the hymns mentioned the work of volunteers and his prayers monsignor Bernard Keily of St Patrick's Cathedral again mentioned volunteers and the work they are doing in the aftermath of the tragedy. ");
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1 March 2011
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document.write("A week after the devastating 6.3 earthquake and it’s still all go for Fire Police, and the facilities they are providing, at the hub of operations in Christchurch city. FP6, installed at Central Police Station, looks like it’ll be there for the foreseeable future. There are no other shower facilities available in the building for personnel working around the clock. Water for the showers is sourced from a Fonterra road tanker parked nearby: supply is gravity-fed into a portable dam from which it’s pumped into the tank on FP6. Its toilets are not being used - there are more than enough Portaloos to cope. There’s a security guard looking after activities. Meanwhile FP8 is at the centre of Fire Service operations at Central Fire Station, and is being continually re-stocked, ensuring sufficient refreshments for crews and officials, open from 5.30am to midnight. And Fire Police are still helping to distribute 400 meals which the Army delivers three times a day. ");
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7 February 2011
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CFO Glenn Teal briefs the 3 members at Auckland airport before they head to Christchurch
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document.write("It's changeover day: our first team which took FP6, 7 and 8 to Christchurch and have been assisting at the hub of Fire Service operations, are being relieved. SOs England and Galloway, FPCs Hohaia, Mason and Williams will be replaced by FPCs Chisnall, McVeigh and Potter. \"These 3 will staff the facilities we have there, further contributing to the massive search and recovery operation still underway,\" says Fire Police Chief, Glenn Teal. \"Further rotations will be considered later, if required\". 3 more members of our Unit are working as part of diverse operations in Christchurch: Fiona Knight is with the Salvation Army's welfare team, Dion Rosario went south as part of the St John Ambulance effort and Jackie Watson has been seconded to the NZFS emergency centre headquarters. ");
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26 February 2011
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document.write("FP6, the Ablutions Trailer, was re-tasked today, moved from Central Fire Station to Central Police Station where there’s an identified need for showers. “Some police have been working continuously for days. They’ll welcome the arrival of FP6 at the centre of their operations, enabling staff to have a hot shower” says SO Chris England. “Meanwhile FP7 has been out in the suburbs assisting as required and while most passersby give us the thumbs up, two waved us down. As a result we summoned emergency services to a 5 storied block, already red-stickered as a no-go area, where there was smoke showing on the 3rd floor. We closed the road”. The second alert was in Sumner. “We came across an elderly resident keen to show off his search and rescue skills learned in an earlier life - and judging his age it could have been quite some time ago! He wanted to enter the almost-demolished Sumner RSA building to search the rubble for anyone trapped inside. It just wasn’t on: we phoned for police asking for help to eject him. Then I realised the fire station was just up the road so I went and got the local Fire Chief who told the would-be one-man USAR that it wasn’t a good idea. FP8, the Canteen, continues serving light refreshments around the clock to fire crews at Central Fire Station and to officials in adjacent buildings housing Fire Operations and Command personnel. “There are 3 of these buildings”, says Chris, “the heart of the fire service effort. Between the operational crews and Headquarters officials there’s a total of 400 persons. We serve refreshments; the Army provides the meals in “hot boxes”, Fire Police distribute them. Health professionals monitor the serving arrangements, food temperature and the time-lapse since cooking, trying to prevent any gastric or other illnesses”. ");
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25 February 2011
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We hope the new label stuck over the word 'Auckland' is just temporary!
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document.write("Auckland Fire Police may never see FP8, its mobile canteen, again! That’s if those Executive Officers at Emergency Operation Headquarters in Christchurch get their way! And there are plenty of other fire personnel who have said that if they could wangle it, they’ll be taking the Canteen home with them when they go. And as you can see in the photo - the sticker placed over the “Auckland” sign means Christchurch Brigade has already claimed it as theirs! Auckland Fire Police Unit’s canteen’s operating at Operations’ Headquarters adjacent to Christchurch’s Central Fire Station, providing services in a very high profile position, hence the enviable looks from fire-fighters who have never before seen such an amenity. “I’ve told our members to keep the keys to the vehicle in their pockets at all times” says Auckland Fire Police Chief, Glenn Teal, with a smile, “we look forward to its return when emergency operations wind down in Christchurch”.
The Unit is already preparing to relieve those Fire Police members on the scene with another volunteer crew, probably over the weekend.
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24 February 2011
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Fire Police 6 ready for hot showers at the Central Fire Station
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document.write("Auckland Fire Police with their 2 vehicles arrived in Christchurch this afternoon. They were welcomed with open arms by Executives at Operations Control when they found that FP6 has hot showers. Plans were made to put it to work immediately, adjacent to Control Headquarters set up at Central Fire Station, not far from some of the buildings which were worst hit in Tuesday’s earthquake. Many emergency services personnel have not had the opportunity for a shower since they were first deployed in Christchurch’s CBD so there’s big demand for the showers. There are also plans for a mobile tanker to be brought in so it can couple up to FP6, providing water. SO Chris England says Canteen duties are yet to be decided: he will probably get details after the shift-change when 200 on-coming personnel are briefed and deployed. ");
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24 February 2011
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document.write("The 2 Auckland Fire Police vehicles which responded to the emergency in Christchurch were stocked with extra provisions before they left. \"Consequently,\" says CFO Glenn Teal, \"the canteen and ablutions trailer will be ready to assist from the moment they arrive.\" Crews, who had been in a state off readiness since the afternoon of the earthquake had to leave work, assemble and be briefed. Meantime additional stocks for both vehicles had to be sourced, ordered, picked up or delivered before the vehicles left. \"Countdown\" Mt Wellington not only selected items and packed them, they donated the bulk of the order : toiletries for the ablutions trailer. The canteen took on extra dry stores, food, cutlery and Squincher. \"This request from the Fire Service and our rapid deployment of fire police facilities from Auckland is a compliment to the Unit\" says Glenn Teal, \"only made possible by our team working at speed\". The 2 Fire Police vehicles are the only ones to respond from Auckland, apart from trucks deployed for USAR duties. ");
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24 February 2011
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Fire Police members heading to Picton on the ferry
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document.write("Auckland Fire Police responding to Christchurch to assist with operations as a result of the earthquake reached Picton earlier today. They expect to report to the Christchurch emergency operations centre early this afteroon. ");
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23 February 2011
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document.write("Auckland Fire Police are responding to assist the Fire Service effort at the centre of the national emergency, the tragic earthquake in Christchurch. Members are taking the Unit's canteen and an appliance which is towing the Ablutions Trailer. \"Our Canteen is in effect a mobile kitchen, entirely self-contained, and carrying several hundred meals\", says Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal, \"while the ablutions trailer with toilets and showers will also arrive in Christchurch ready to deploy. These specialist vehicles are proceding by road and the ferry to Christchurch\", Glenn Teal added, \"and will remain there to assist for as long as they're needed\". ");
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16 February 2011
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document.write("Auckland Fire Police owe their beginnings to a major fire in downtown Auckland on this evening, 80 years ago on February 16, 1931. There were, in fact, 2 big blazes at the same time that night: the first gutted historic Partington’s Windmill near the Symonds Street/Karangahape Road intersection. Prominent on Auckland’s skyline, the blaze attracted a large crowd. Then a second fire broke out, downtown, and quickly swept through a whole block, consuming warehouses, factories and shops between by Hobson and Federal Streets, just north of Victoria Street. The crowd migrated from the mill fire, and swelled by others, grew to an estimated 10,000. There were too few police on hand to control unruly elements in the crowd who got in the way of firemen and began looting from fire-damaged and surrounding shops. The Navy decided to help. 70 marines and ratings, armed with bayonets fixed, arrived from Devonport and assisted police restore order. Auckland’s Fire Chief of the day, Superintendent Bill Wilson, said he feared for the safety of the crowd... and more importantly the welfare of his men while fighting the fire... and, not wanting a repetition, investigated the formation of Fire Police in Auckland. The Corps was established in June 1933 with 12 constables, the forerunner of today’s Unit with 60 members - New Zealand’s biggest volunteer brigade. ");
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14 February 2011
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The handcuffed man takes a decontamination shower under police supervision
The 2 storeyed house was gutted
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document.write("A 2-storeyed house in Waikowhai exploded with a series of loud bangs just after 7 o’clock this morning. The fire that followed gutted most rooms. The house, which had a For Sale notice on the gate, was at the end of a long driveway off Hillsborough Road. Fire Police managed morning peak hour traffic on the busy East-West route when emergency vehicles partially blocked the road. Fire-fighters came across a man inside the burning building and escorted him out. Police later handcuffed a man and because he had been exposed to unknown fumes he had to be decontaminated. He was reluctant to have the obligatory cold-water dousing so the task was carried out under police supervision. He was later taken, again under police guard, to hospital by ambulance for a medical check up. Fire Safety investigators and detectives are investigating the blaze, thought to have started in several different rooms. ");
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24 January 2011
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document.write("It wasn’t quite over for the Unit when, overnight, the weekend storm moved out into the Pacific... today there were a further 5 calls for assistance to storm-related incidents. Just after midnight we turned out to a fallen tree blocking the road in New Lynn, and later in the morning members were paged to assist with traffic management at 2 simultaneous incidents... felled power lines in Three Kings and in Otara. Mid-afternoon there were 2 more calls, again at the same time, to power lines down across the road in Mt Roskill and in Sandringham, the latter call requiring, in the interests of public safety, that members close busy Morningside Drive to through traffic at the intersection of St Lukes Road. Fire-fighters moved the wires aside just before the evening peak traffic hour, allowing the road to open but Fire Police remained guarding the scene until, early evening, the power authority took over. Like the weekend’s calls, some of today’s were long duration tasks while members awaited availability of fault-men who have been stretched dealing with the widespread effects of the storm. ");
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23 January 2011
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document.write("Auckland got its fair share of the wet and windy weekend weather, prompting hundreds of call for assistance to emergency services. Members attended 12 incidents: many attributed to wild winds together with heavy rain, which combined with a king tide late Sunday morning, causing flooding and problems with electricity systems. The Unit oversaw public safety at power wires smoking in Epsom, tree and power wires down in Glendowie, and exploded transformer and flooding at Bucklands Beach. We also assisted with salvage at flooding in shop basements in downtown city. The elements possibly contributed to motor accidents members were called to in Flat Bush, Blockhouse Bay, Mangere, Pollock and Paerata. On the North Shore there was a turnout to a suspicious fire at Bayswater School while in West Auckland members joined Titirangi Fire Police with traffic management at the scene of a major diesel spillage. “At one stage we had all 3 of our vehicles out at different emergencies” says Chief Fire Police Officer Glenn Teal. “Many tasks over the weekend were long-duration jobs for Fire Police. This was the feature of some weekend activities because power fault-men were busy elsewhere dealing with the fallout of our unique weather event.” ");
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7 January 2011
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The blaze spread rapidly ... neighbours took this shot just after raising the alarm
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document.write("A fire that members responded to in Auckland’s Eastern suburb of Glendowie escalated to a 4th Alarm before fire-fighters got the better of the flames which raced through a classroom block at Glendowie Primary School. Fire Police provided many support services for fire-fighters: closing roads, lighting the scene, providing canteen and ablution facilities, gathering breathing apparatus cylinders for re-charging, assisting at Incident Control, helping police and ensuring scene protection and crowd control. “Despite holiday time, 27 of our members responded and they were all kept fully occupied for more than 4 hours before being stood down” says the Unit’s Deputy Chief, Ric Carlyon, “and while some members had only one duty on the night - like traffic control some distance from the fire - others on the scene were redeployed many times over, undertaking different tasks to meet the many demands made of the Unit during this major fire”. ");
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6 January 2011
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document.write("Members closed several city blocks in Auckland's Central Business District tonight while fire-fighters dealt with a late-night fire in Smith and Caughey's multi-storey department store. Although it was a small fire on the ground floor of the Queen Street premises, checked by the building's sprinkler system, there was heavy smoke-logging. Fire Police closed Queen, Wellesley and Elliot Streets for several hours during fire-fighting and salvage operations. They also provided security where fire-fighters had forced entry at several locations: steel grilles had been cut open and other outside doors smashed by the fire brigade, first to access the blaze and later to provide forced ventilation to the outside: giant fans were used to expel the thick smoke. ");
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1 January 2011
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document.write("Members farewell 2010 having responded to 576 emergency calls during the calendar year. \"It's a slight increase over the previous year (551 turn-outs)\" says the Unit's Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, \"but nowhere near the peak year of 2005-6 (691) with a distinct drop in fires, no doubt due to the Fire Service's growing fire safety and prevention programmes\". \"And as for the new year, 2011 is going to be something of a watershed for the Unit with the projected change from Fire Police to Operational Support, a new training regime, our revised management system kicking in and, of course, the members continuing to respond in support of fire-fighters, emergency services and the community\". The first call for 2011 on New Year's Day was to a bush and forest fire near Otaua on South Auckland's West Coast, where the canteen provided meals and refreshments for fire-fighters. ");
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