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25 December 2012
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West Webster Volunteer Fire Department, NY, mourns their loss
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document.write("As members of our Brigade celebrate Christmas Day we spare thoughts for our counterparts slain in the suburbs of Rochester, New York State, USA, on Christmas Eve. We salute the memory of volunteers Lt. Mike Chiapperini and firefighter Tomasz Kaczowka who died as they stepped down from their appliance at the scene of a house fire. We send all best wishes for a full recovery to those firefighters injured in the cross-fire and sincere condolences to the West Webster Volunteer Fire Department.
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25 December 2012
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document.write("Members responded just after 3 o’clock this Christmas morning to a serious house fire in Henderson. The blaze in the Coburg Street Housing Corporation dwelling destroyed rooms at the back of the house but the whole place suffered heat and smoke damage. Some 10 occupants made good their escape without injury but were left with just the clothes they grabbed before fleeing the fire. ");
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15 December 2012
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Lighting the scene at Penrose courtesy Operational Support members.
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document.write("Members were engaged until the early hours of this morning at a hazardous materials incident, involving spilled chemicals in the yard of a Penrose carrying company. Our Brigade responded to the call just before seven o’ clock last night and continued attendance at the scene in Neilson Street until half past two this morning. Some 20 members attended in shifts around the clock during the 7 and a half hour clean-up operation, providing scene management, canteen duties including hot and cold refreshments, and scene lighting. ");
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13 December 2012
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Emergency Services at the Search and Rescue Mission, Newmarket.
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document.write("Members joined a major emergency services alert this evening after 5 workers were reported missing in the 9.2km Vector power cable tunnel. Initial reports advised that the men below had not been heard from in several hours and the search and rescue operation was mounted. Police, Fire and Ambulance personnel gathered at the tunnel entrance in Newmarket, a shaft some 57 meters deep, setting up a command point on the surface there. Other firefighters went to 2 city portals. But operations were called off around 11pm when all those working below were accounted for. Our members assisted with scene safety, command and breathing apparatus units and refreshments at Nuffield Street and scene safety at the city locations. The tunnel contains power cables linking Hobson Street sub-station in the city with the national grid at Penrose and has, since its completion in 2000, been the scene of several search and rescue exercises by the Fire Service. ");
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11 December 2012
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Camry vs MG, Parnell Road.
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document.write("End of day commuter traffic through Parnell was delayed last evening due to an unusual motor vehicle collision. A Toyota Camry and an MG convertible collided with the result that the Camry ended up with its driver’s side wheels on top of the MG. The top was down on the MG but fortunately there was no one in the passenger seat. Both drivers got out of their vehicles unscathed. Remarkably both cars were driveable after the event once they were disconnected, although to be safe they left the scene by tow truck. Operational Support members managed traffic flows while the vehicles were recovered. Local member SSO Bay attended and remarked that finding parking in the area can be challenging at this time of year, but wasn’t sure that this was the best solution. ");
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9 December 2012
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document.write("The Brigade has had a rare occurrence... a marriage within its ranks. Members Amanda Sachtleben and Richard Cuthbert were wed yesterday in ideal weather at an outdoor ceremony staged in picturesque Auckland Botanic Gardens. Colleagues gave the newly-wed couple a Guard of Honour as they emerged after the service. In the groom’s speech during the reception that followed, he credited the Brigade’s then recruiting officer, Ric Carlyon, as matchmaker. Richard pointed out he first met Amanda as part of a group interviewed by Ric as recruits more than 10 years ago. Amanda and Richard then joined the Brigade on the same night, trained together and, both living West, often were at the same emergency calls. “Their training taught them both the need for good teamwork,” says Ric, “ ...these two obviously took this to heart and now they’re a very special team of two. The whole Brigade wishes them all the best for their future together”. ");
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8 December 2012
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Firefighters at the scene of today's major blaze, St Johns.
Fire crews used aerial appliances to knock the St Johns fire
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document.write("There’s been a major fire in the Auckland suburb of St Johns this morning: Fire Officers escalated the response to 3rd Alarm status when it was apparent fire was spreading throughout an unnamed commercial building in Felton Matthew Avenue. Two Operational Support vehicles were responded along with other members who were engaged in traffic management, crowd control, removing vehicles from inside the cordon, Command Point duties, scene protection and canteen activities. “It’s the third Greater Alarm we have responded to in as many days...” the brigade’s Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, says, “... and notably a string of serious fires continues to buck the trend that most of our recent call-outs, until a month or so ago, were to non-fire emergency events”. ");
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6 December 2012
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Construction site, Hobsonville: scene of deaths during this afternoon’s tornado
One of the hundreds of trees damaged by the tornado
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document.write("Members have been engaged all afternoon at the aftermath of a tornado that swept through Hobsonville in West Auckland, leaving 3 people dead and several hundred houses damaged. Those killed were working on a construction site when the twister struck leaving a trail of damage about 500 metres wide for a kilometre or two near the old Hobsonville airbase. Of the houses damaged, many are uninhabitable with windows blown in and roofs torn off. Urban Search and Rescue teams joined fire fighters, police, Air Force personnel and a Civil Defence group at the emergency. 16 of our members responded, with others standing by if required. Duties included canteen, traffic management (complicated when nearby motorways were closed by debris), scene protection and command unit assistance while some members worked at the RNZAF Base where a control-room was established ");
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30 November 2012
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Result of one of November's fires: part of the damage on Mt Wellington
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document.write("Auckland Operational Support has averaged two calls every day in November, an extraordinary level of activity for any volunteer brigade in New Zealand. And with one or two exceptions, all were working jobs - some were responses to Greater Alarms. “November 2012 goes down as a month when members made an outstanding contribution to their community”, says Acting Chief Fire Officer, Ric Carlyon, “I doubt any other volunteer brigade could match the number and variety of calls”. As well as 18 motor vehicle accidents attended during the month, our people responded to Greater Alarms including a fatal house fire at Glendene, a factory at Otara, bush on the slopes of Mt Wellington Domain, a recycling plant in Papatoetoe, a warehouse at Glenfield, house fires at Papatoetoe and Orakei, and a car crashed into a house at Point England. In addition members responded to the effects of stormy weather earlier in the month, a homicide in Waterview, two airport alerts, several scrub fires, a tree fallen across a busy city road and spillages of hazardous substances in both Henderson and Puhoi plus a barn fire near Waiuku and a house fire at Helensville. And volunteers continue their service this weekend, assisting at no fewer than six community events. ");
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28 November 2012
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document.write("Members have been on a long-duration incident tonight after fire broke out in bush and scrub on the northern slopes of Mt Wellington. Operational Support teams worked in three areas, on the road leading up to the summit and side roads around the base of the mountain in Panmure and Stonefields. Personnel closed the mountain to sightseers, assisted at the Command Unit and helped firefighters position hoses on to the mountain from nearest water supplies. Firefighting operations continued through the evening mealtime so the mobile canteen prepared dozens of hot meals. And not long after completion at this fire there was another blaze in the wee small hours (29th) involving a rubbish contractor's premises at Paptoetoe. The fire, at Pink Bins, escalated to a 3rd Alarm: our personnel oversaw road closures and traffic management, set up initial lighting,and provided freshments from the mobile canteen. ");
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23 November 2012
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Just after dawn and firefighters complete their attack from the roof top
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document.write("The Brigade’s assisted for most of the day at a persistent fire in Huhtamaki’s moulded fibre division, Bairds Road, Otara. The alarm was raised at half past three this morning. Firefighters transmitted a 3rd Alarm to muster enough resources to tackle the deep-seated blaze, centred in the finished products store involving stocks of egg crates and apple box packaging. Members assisted in a range of duties including distributing breathing apparatus cylinders on site: every firefighter in or near the building wore a breathing set in the thick smoke and fumes. The canteen prepared a cooked breakfast for firefighters. It was more than 12 hours before members were stood down and the canteen returned to Balmoral Station where it was cleaned and stocks replenished. ");
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15 November 2012
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document.write("One of our members always realised her birthday was the same day as Prince Charles but she never imagined she’d get to personally share celebrations with the heir to the British throne. Yesterday Fiona Knight was selected as one of those with the same birthday as the Prince to join him for a party at Government House in Wellington. Fiona was accompanied by husband David and 6 months old daughter Emily. 64 guests, one for each year of the Prince’s life were invited: coincidentally it was also the Governor General’s birthday. “All the birthday people got introduced to the Prince, there was time for chats and informal mingling - it was so relaxed...” says Fiona, “... a great party!” And while the Prince has very publicly attained 64, Fiona’s keeping mum about her age! ");
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14 November 2012
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document.write("Traffic disruption because of ongoing road works on Great North Road, Waterview, got somewhat more complicated early this morning when the road was closed by police investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident. A male pedestrian died after being struck by a car near the corner of Oakley Avenue. Members turned out at 1.30am to assist with traffic management. With temporary lane changes, closures and barricades for the tunnel project already part of the street-scape along Waterview Straight, it was not easy to put in diversions. Traffic had to be u-turned. Fortunately police finished their investigations around 5.30am when Members got word to re-open the road, just as the morning rush was beginning. ");
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13 November 2012
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Foliage reduces Wakefield Street to a one-way road
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document.write("Busy Wakefield Street in Auckland’s Central Business District was partially blocked by a fallen tree situated in the reserve near Symonds Street. Around five thirty this evening a huge branch split from the trunk about half way up and fell, its branches blocking half Wakefield Street. Members who managed the traffic around the obstruction found it particularly busy during the evening commute. Arborists later arrived to deal to the tree. Earlier today we assisted at a major gas leak near Middlemore Hospital which, before supply could be turned off, closed the main entrance to the hospital and stopped trains on adjacent lines. ");
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11 November 2012
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document.write("The busy start to the weekend (5 incidents overnight Friday/Saturday) has hardly let up with a further two calls. The first was to a 3rd Alarm blaze in the Four Square supermarket in Warkworth township. Members responded in two vehicles, Operational Support One and the Canteen, joining appliances answering the greater alarm from local brigades and those from as far away as Auckland and Whangarei. Members put in an inner cordon road closure and set up the canteen. And as the job in the North wound down the Brigade was called to South Auckland, to a house fire in Papatoetoe. Members helped with salvage. A call on Sunday afternoon mobilised Members to an alert at Ardmore Airport. The light plane landed safely. Then, mid-evening, the Briigade was on the move again to power lines down in Epsom. Members provided traffic and scene management until linemen made the wires safe. ");
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10 November 2012
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Members assisted with making up a flaked feeder at the Civic Building second alarm.
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document.write("The weekend began with a busy period for Members – the Brigade has responded to assist at 5 incidents overnight, one a house fire in which a person died and another was badly hurt. The string of calls began last evening with a second alarm to a fire in the Auckland Council’s high rise headquarters building in the Central Business District. A fire on the 8th floor was quickly extinguished. Second alarms were also transmitted for two house fires, one, the fatal blaze was in Glendene which destroyed a two storied residence; the other at Wiri badly damaged several rooms. There was later a call to assist at Point England where a car had crashed into a house. And just before breakfast there was yet another second alarm callout in the Central Business District, to a fire in the premises of a company advertising itself as ‘Auckland’s best massage parlour’. Several employees suffering the effects of smoke and heat were taken to hospital by ambulance. The blaze was soon contained. ");
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2 November 2012
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document.write("A major overnight fire in the Wiri industrial area has seriously damaged a factory. First-arriving firefighters found the McLaughlins Road premises of Crow Refractory Limited well alight and a 3rd alarm response resulted. Members supported firefighting operations with traffic management, canteen operations, BA replenishments and command unit duties. Fire swept through the building - ironically Crow deals in refractory products which are difficult to melt, resistant to heat and designed to work in very high temperatures ");
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28 October 2012
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Runners and Drivers shared long stretches of Quay St and Tamaki Drive on a sunny Sunday morning.
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document.write("This morning our members assisted with traffic management, ensuring the safety of participants along parts of the 42.195 km course in the country’s foremost road race, the adidas Auckland marathon. 16,500 runners and walkers, the equivalent of the entire population of Cambridge or Wainuiomata, entered the races which took marathon participants from Devonport on the North Shore across the Harbour Bridge, around the waterfront and back to the CBD with the finish line at Victoria Park. As well as taking care of traffic diversions in Quay Street and Tamaki Drive, members also assisted some exhausted entrants and called in medical help for more serious cases of over-exertion. In addition to providing a good exercise in traffic management for members, it’s also a fund-raiser for the Brigade. ");
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14 October 2012
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The tree the morning after: a bit lopsided and suffering 1,000 cuts
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document.write("Most complex job during last night’s storm was traffic management in Auckland’s main street, Queen Street, where gusty winds threatened to bring down massive branches of a huge 100 year old Moreton Bay Fig tree. Constant gusts weakened and split the protected tree’s upper limbs... they threatened to fall on to the road. Among numerous traffic management measures put in place by our members for scene safety in the busy thoroughfare was the ‘squeezing’ of an extra phase at Mayoral Drive traffic lights to relieve the tail-back. Early evening a pointsman was deployed to give motorists an additional left-turn phase, helping to clear long queues up Queen Street, including carloads going to Diwali celebrations in the city and to the ‘Civic’ to see the opening of the hit stage-show ‘Mary Poppins’. Hence everyone arrived at the theatre in time for curtain-up, including the star of the show herself. It’s understood Mary usually flies to the theatre each night but last night she was forced to travel terrestrially. The gusty winds - up to 110 kph - would have blown her off course and trashed her umbrella! ");
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13 October 2012
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document.write("Blustery and gusty winds, some recorded repeatedly at 70kph, resulted in many calls for help to the Fire Service throughout the day and into the evening. The storm was forecast, though it was perhaps a little more persistent than anticipated. Calls began with roofs lifting and trees bowled. At one incident firefighters disengaged a flying trampoline entangled in television aerials. Members responded to 5 storm-related calls. All required scene safety and all were long-duration jobs awaiting authorities to make them safe. Dislodged power lines were dealt with in Mangere East, Te Atatu and Epsom, while in the central city glass was dislodged from a broken window on a high-rise building and a large tree in Myers Park, weakened by the strong winds, threatened to fall across Queen Street. Trimming the damaged limbs will continue into the night. ");
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28 September 2012
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document.write("Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, took time out in this year’s Annual Report to give the Brigade a glimpse of the year ahead. He told the Annual General Meeting that emphasis will be on the development of the Brigade - individual and collective competencies - so that our valuable contribution to the community can be sustained and enhanced. The CFO mentioned 6 objectives in particular... further moves towards introduction of the TAPS (training)programme for all members, enhancing operational equipment with an eye on innovation, continuing the Refreshment of Membership Project and completing processes towards registering the Brigade as an Incorporated Society. Glenn Teal added that he has the purchase of 4 defibrillators in view, for which funds will have to be raised, and this year he plans to increase Brigade social activities culminating in September 2013 with a function to celebrate our 80th anniversary. ");
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22 September 2012
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document.write("Members had a busy Friday with 4 calls. The first was the 4th Alarm fire in a Mt Eden Road furnisher’s showroom where duties began at quarter to nine and, for Operational Support personnel, concluded at quarter past three. In the meantime members, some released from the Mt Eden event, made their way to 2 other calls, the first a 2nd alarm at Mr Chips processing plant in East Tamaki. Firefighters quickly dealt to this fire and our crew returned to Mt Eden. An hour or so later they were on the road again, this time to a house fire in St Mary’s Bay. One or two of our members achieved the rare Hat Trick by attending this call... their third successive call without returning home. Once that fire was under control the crew again returned to Mt Eden Road to assist operations which were being scaled down. Early evening, to conclude a busy day, members with one of our appliances were called to another K99 house fire in Avondale. ");
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21 September 2012
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The La Hood building after fire swept through it today.
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document.write("This morning’s fire in a furnisher’s showroom in Mt Eden escalated to a 4th alarm. Smoke billowing from the burning building, La Hood’s, was so thick Mt Eden Road had to be closed to all traffic... the busy arterial route remained closed for more than 4 hours. Blocks went in at Normanby Road and Edwin Street so buses also had to find alternative routes. The fire ripped through the first floor gutting the place and leaving one firefighter suffering smoke inhalation. The thick smoke also meant buildings around about were evacuated and closed. Members initially assisted at road blocks, then helped with command unit duties, evacuations, crowd control and provided rehydration and meals. Members had been on the scene for 5 and a half hours before being given the all-clear mid-afternoon. ");
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19 September 2012
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document.write("This was the sentiment of the Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, when presenting his yearly report at the Brigade’s Annual General Meeting. He singled out 4 features of the year under review... the change from Fire Police to Operational Support, seven multiple-alarm fires, extra duties in connection with the Rugby World Cup and the numerous non-emergency Brigade and Fire Service events attended. “519 working calls for the 12 months ended in June reflects a very busy year for us: these, and other activities, involved all of our members” said Glenn Teal, “so I acknowledge the dedicated input... it’s been a great year!” The Brigade turns 80 next year. ");
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16 September 2012
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Members at work on Waterview Straight at dawn this morning
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document.write("Today’s early morning turn-out was to Great North Road, Waterview, otherwise known as the Waterview Straight, where a van had run into a tree. This trapped the injured driver in the wreckage, seriously damaged the vehicle, debarked the tree, and left glass from the van’s windscreen embedded in the tree trunk. Members established traffic management around the scene but had to reinforce measures because of high speeds by motorists approaching on the wide, open, straight stretch. Darkness and continuous rain added to the mix. Our personnel retained traffic management until police completed investigations and the wreckage was removed. Council will attend to the damaged tree. ");
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12 September 2012
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Auckland Operational Support members at the top of the BNZ Tower.
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document.write("It’s 9/11 across the United States today with commemorative services underway remembering those who died in New York's Twin Towers catastrophe in 2001. Last night (9/11 local time) firefighters gathered in Auckland to honour all those in fire services lost in the line of duty. After an address from the US Consul-General and a prayer from the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, Senior Station Officer Ross Bay, firefighters went on what’s become an annual tradition, a Memorial Stair Climb. Fully kitted with breathing apparatus, they scale the stairs 28 stories to the top of BNZ Tower. 7 members from Auckland Operational Support participated, along with firefighters from as far away as Matakana in the North and Waitoa in the Waikato. ");
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9 September 2012
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Fire fighters get to work at the blazing warehouse.
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document.write("Fire ripped through a warehouse in Fremlin Place in the Rosebank Peninsula industrial area this afternoon – members were busy at the scene assisting with control unit duties, lighting, traffic management and preparing meals at the canteen. They later added scene guard to their duties. Work continued as a thunderstorm passed across Auckland's Western suburbs. The warehouse, at the end of the no exit road, was severely damaged. Fire was detected in a neighbouring building but flames there were quickly checked. Fire investigators are on site...tonight the cause is being treated as suspicous. ");
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8 September 2012
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document.write("Operational Support assisted with road blocks this morning on busy Mt Albert Rd, Epsom, at the scene of a fatal motor accident. Cordons went in at Hillsborough and Mt Eden Roads – the crash occurred at the intersection of Mt Albert and St Andrews Road where a car went head-on into a stone wall and also brought down a light standard. The driver died at the scene. Mt Albert Road, Route 10, was closed for more than 4 hours while police investigated the crash. And no sooner had OS personnel completed duties at Epsom there was a further call to another motor vehicle accident in Campbell Road, One Tree Hill, involving 4 vehicles with one person trapped.
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2 September 2012
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This morning's crash in Neilson Street, Te Papapa
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document.write("Members were engaged for more than 6 hours at a fatal motor vehicle accident this morning in Neilson Street, Te Papapa. A car collided with a power pole just after 2am bringing down high-tension lines which became wrapped around the vehicle. Rescuers could not approach the car until the electricity had been cut off. Once linemen isolated power to the area ambulancemen could move in, followed by firefighters who cut the body from the wreckage. Members remained on the scene, closing Neilson Street while these activities, and police investigations into the accident, were carried out. ");
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31 August 2012
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document.write("Members responded to a motor vehicle accident in Pt Chevalier Road tonight where a station wagon had crashed into a shop. The front of the vehicle entered the dairy bringing down the shop frontage, leaving the verandah in danger of collapse. Firefighters stabilised the building as others tried to extricate the seriously injured occupant. Another crew set up a winch and the vehicle was inched clear of the building so that cutting gear could be used to free the victim. Members assisted with road closures and scene protection. ");
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13 August 2012
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Tony Grossart with his trophy and certificate
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document.write("Member QFF Tony Grossart won one of the events at the National Driving Challenge held over the weekend at Manfeild Park, Feilding. The contest is organised by the United Fire Brigades’ Association and this year some 70 fire service drivers took part, competing in a range of events to test their driving and judgement skills. Tony won Event 10, Braking, which tests reaction and stopping times in an emergency. Competitors are timed by an electronic clock and Tony scored the possible 100 points taking the winner’s certificate and the Wellington Provincial Centennial Trophy. ");
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12 August 2012
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Big building on fire but the real damage was to the super-yacht inside.
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document.write("A shipyard workshop, and a 50 meter luxury super-yacht under construction within it, were badly damaged in a major fire in Mt Wellington overnight. Members responded to the fierce blaze in Gabador Place about 1.30am today. The situation soon developed into a 4th Alarm. Members assisted with traffic management, at the control point, canteen, breathing apparatus tender and carried out salvage. Fire involved a massive workshop some 60 meters long and 20 meters high containing the super-yacht under construction. Firefighters found they were tackling a blaze within the incomplete vessel which, when finished, has a guide price of $NZ61 million. Members were on site over a period of 25-and-a-half hours... 25 members attended, clocking up around 120 person-hours. ");
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10 August 2012
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The two heavy truck and trailers fused on impact.
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document.write("Members put in road closures in Great South Road, Newmarket, and in adjacent streets, today following a multi-vehicle incident. 2 drivers were injured, one trapped in the wreckage. The series of crashes began when a van and a truck/trailer collided, the van shot across the road into a side street demolishing a light standard and two vehicles in its path. It ended up against a third car. Meanwhile the truck/trailer careered on to the wrong side of Great South Road, clipping 3 new cars lined up in a dealer’s yard and crashing into another truck/trailer, parked at the kerbside delivering new cars to the dealer’s showrooms. The brand new car on the trailer was damaged and the shunt action on impact damaged further cars in the dealer’s front yard and took out a second light standard. It was nearly 3 hours before all vehicles were salvaged and Great South Road could be reopened. By the way, all except two of the 13 cars damaged, some extensively, were upmarket, new or near-new, Audis, BMWs or Porsches. ");
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8 August 2012
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document.write("It was an early morning call today to Mt Eden Road, a main LINK to and from the city, where after some sort of DISCONNECT a car had CRASHED into a computer shop, smashing into 2 other vehicles before it shattered the WINDOWS in the STORE. BASICally the BMW car lost CONTROL on the bend at Kelly Street, by DEFAULT hit a ute parked kerbside, DRAGGING it, seriously damaging it and in turn striking another parked vehicle denting its BOOT. Defying LOGIC, the Beamer FLASHed through the forced gap, jumped the footpath, crossed a car park but despite this BUFFER, it RAMmed the shop at SPEED. Members closed the road, RESTORING it after fire-fighters HACKed the BMW’s roof, extricated the driver from the wreckage and while St John went through KEYWORD diagnosis of FUNCTIONS, police wrote up their NOTEBOOOKs and the vehicles were finally UPLOADED, RECOVERED. ");
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23 July 2012
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document.write("The flurry of calls, 5 in the course of about 2 hours, made for one of the busiest evenings the Brigade has experienced. Not since there was a series of arsons in downtown buildings in 2003 have members been so busy... but most of those calls were all within a kilometer or so, whereas tonight’s calls have been widespread. The chapter of activity began at about half past five in Penrose where we attended the first of 3 motor vehicle accidents. Crashes in Papakura and Flatbush followed. Then there was a 2nd alarm haybarn/shed fire in Puni, Franklin District followed by a call to power lines down in Gloria Avenue, Te Atatu, in West Auckland. The Brigade’s 4 vehicles were juggled to ensure appropriate responses to the different callouts, including the canteen which turned out to Puni to provide meals for crews who had been fire-fighting right through the traditional evening meal hour. 25 of our members attended at least one call in the course of the evening, and some members clocked up 3 calls, while a few others had the distinction of achieving the rare “hat trick”, attending 3 calls one after the other without a break. By half past seven we had received the call to Te Atatu but members put in an hour or two there until power lines were made safe, while those at Puni finished around midnight. ");
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23 July 2012
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document.write("While both units were busy at Redoubt Road a 2nd Alarm was transmitted for a fire in the rural area of Puni. A large hay barn/shed was alight. OS3 was freed from Redoubt Road tasks and responded to South Auckland where it was detailed to provide traffic control at the water filling point, protecting appliances on water shuttle duties. OS2 was mustered from Auckland to replace OS3 in Redoubt Road. Once Redoubt Road had been made safe and reopened, OS2 was available and was requested to go to the scene of the fire at Puni. Shortly after this OS4, the mobile canteen was mobilised to Puni with its crew of 3 which meant, notably, that all 4 Operational Support vehicles were out on jobs. Then, just to add to the flurry of calls our Brigade was requested at Gloria Avenue, West Auckland, where felled power lines were draped across the road. OS 1 responded to help other members with public safety at the scene: Gloria Avenue was closed to through traffic. ");
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23 July 2012
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document.write("This turned out to be a head-on crash and the Brigade’s appliance, OS3, responded from Papakura. Fire-fighters called for busy Redoubt Road to be closed while two patients were extricated from the wreckage. So the second appliance, OS1 which had been at the Penrose call, was also mobilised, to assist at Hilltop Road while the other crew put in a road block at Murphy’s Road. This continued for some time until the next chapter in this flurry of calls... ");
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23 July 2012
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document.write("The Brigade was called to two calls, both motor vehicle accidents, on the same road at the same time this evening. The first turnout by OS1 was to Great South Road and Sims Road in Penrose where 2 cars collided. Members provided scene protection while at the same time another of the Brigade’s appliances OS3 responded to Great South Road and Trentham Road in Papakura. This was not a serious accident and the appliance was freed to carry on to another incident reported at Redoubt Road, Flatbush and to which Operational Support had been requested. ");
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20 July 2012
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The cortege departs flanked by the Guard of Honour
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document.write("Members closed busy Pitt Street in the city this afternoon to enable full honours to be accorded to Station Officer James Young as he left City Station on his last call. James, 40, who worked out of Birkenhead Station, died after a brief illness. More than 500 attended his service. Operational Support members closed Pitt Street so James’ colleagues could perform a haka and a sa’a before the vintage fire engine bearing the casket departed, and then kept the road cordoned off to enable hundreds of firefighters to form a Guard of Honour. ");
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20 July 2012
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document.write("Operational Support travelled to one of the Southern-most parts of its district early today to attend a fire at Buckland, near Pukekohe. The fire was well established in a sleep-out accommodation and stables, both unoccupied, by the time the local fire brigades arrived. Although the farmland was unreticulated, firefighters used multiple hose-lines to get the blaze under control. Our members took the canteen to the call after it was called for from the fireground. ");
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20 July 2012
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document.write("The Auckland Operational Support “family” has an addition from late yesterday morning. She’s Olive, brand new daughter for Pip and our member Nigel Tainui. Olive arrived at Middlemore Hospital at 11.12am weighing-in at a healthy 8lb 2 oz. All’s well, except for Nigel who will quickly find he now has a baby as well as his pager to remind him that it’s the middle of the night! The Brigade welcomes Olive and congratulates Pip and Nigel and one mighty proud Kuia on the West Coast! Kia ora mai! ");
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16 July 2012
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Emergency workers effecting rescue swarm in and around the SUV.
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document.write("The major East-West commuter route, Campbell Road in Onehunga, was closed one-way during this morning’s commute while emergency crews dealt with a traffic crash just inside the gates to Cornwall Park. A security company’s vehicle hit one of the stone gateposts that mark the entrance to the Park, trapping the driver and wrecking the SUV. The impact also broke off the top of the post, a rock estimated to weigh about a tonne. Members closed Campbell Road, diverting east-bound traffic during the busy morning peak-hour. The closure remained in place for nearly 2 hours until the driver was extricated and removed to hospital and the scene made safe. ");
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15 July 2012
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Extrications complete, the car, broken in half, with the power pole embedded.
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document.write("Seasoned fire and police personnel were amazed at the wreckage created by this morning’s fatal road accident in Mangere. A car hit a concrete power pole on Massey Road and the impact broke the pole off at ground level, somehow embedding itself in the car and then snapping off again, falling across the car’s bonnet. Live wires were draped across the vehicle preventing fire-fighters and ambulance workers gaining access to the occupants. Once electricity was isolated a female was cut free of the wreckage and taken to hospital. A dead man was then extricated. Members closed Massey Road and side streets to safeguard emergency workers and to cordon off fallen power lines during rescue operations which lasted an hour and a half. ");
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1 July 2012
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Heavy traffic at Fanshawe/Nelson St Intersection during the 2nd Alarm at the Tepid Baths.
Chief Fire Officer Teal issues instructions at Fanshawe St.
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document.write("Members have been busy today attending 2 Second Alarm incidents and a serious road crash. The crash, on Karaka Road, aka SH22, in South Auckland, engaged 6 members for 3 and a quarter hours in traffic management until contractors took over. Police required road closures while they investigated the accident. About the same time 12 other members were responding to a 2nd alarm downtown in Auckland City, a leak of chlorine at the Tepid Baths. Several blocks had to be closed to traffic: Operational Support members helped manage cordons, particularly the complex Nelson/Fanshaw/Sturdee Streets intersection, for more than 3 hours while firefighters worked to contain the spillage. Then in the evening the Brigade was out again to another 2nd Alarm, a garage fire in Flatbush, South Auckland. And just a flourish to end the weekend, a call early Monday morning to a road accident on busy Hillsborough Road. Members managed traffic until the debris was cleared... just in time before the morning commute. ");
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27 June 2012
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3rd Weekend Trainees: D. Serjeant, G. Flutey and J. McNickle
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document.write("The first centralised training for Fire Police/Operational Support in 30 years has just been completed in a series of weekend courses for recruits at the National Training Centre in Rotorua. Our Brigade had 3 recruits on each of the 3 weekends and provided 3 trainers for the intensive courses, attended by Operations Support personnel from throughout the country and modelled on the pilot courses that our brigade assisted with in Auckland. All those attending marvelled at the facilities at the new training centre, and got to use some of the life-like scenarios, for instance traffic management was organised on the Centre’s own railway line with the locomotive stalled on the level crossing. All the trainees were unanimous in their praise of the course content and value while all the trainers recognised our members’ preparation and confidence as “stand out” over the 3 weekends ");
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25 June 2012
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The driver of this car was killed when it slammed into a traffic light pole in Milford.
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document.write("This morning the Brigade assisted at one of the biggest intersections on the North Shore in the aftermath of a motor accident which claimed the life of the driver. The crossroads, where Shakespeare Road meets Kitchener Road in Milford, are usually one of the busiest, but it was quiet at 3am when the crash occurred, the car slamming into a pole carrying traffic lights. Members helped close the intersection, effecting traffic diversions while police investigated the accident and, later, fire-fighters extricated the victim. The roads were opened at 6.30am, just before the morning commuters’ peak began.
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23 June 2012
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document.write("One of our West Auckland members, SFF Antony McVeigh married Colleen today in a ceremony that had quite a Fire Service ring about it. The bride arrived in one of the brigade’s appliances, members of the Brigade formed a guard of honour and each table at the reception was labelled with a fire brigade radio “K code” call. Those sitting at table K99 expected the hottest time. Fittingly, the top table had the sign K45, announcing a change in command! The McVeighs are off to warmer climes, cruising the Pacific for their honeymoon. ");
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22 June 2012
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document.write("In a welcome gesture to help mark Volunteer Awareness Week, Area Manager of the Auckland Fire District has publicly thanked the brigade for its volunteer work. A prominent advertisement in the “Aucklander” supplement, distributed with the NZ Herald newspaper, advises readers that we are the largest volunteer fire brigade in New Zealand, attending more than 500 calls a year. “Area Manager Brian Edwards...” the advertisement continues, “.... wishes to thank members for their dedication and service to the citizens of Auckland, the self-employed members who attend during their work time and employers who allow volunteers to attend incidents”. The advertisement advises that the brigade is based at Auckland City Station, that it attends a wide range of incidents 24 x 7 and that it has 4 vehicles, 2 of which volunteers crewed to take to Christchurch, assisting there with post-earthquake operations. On behalf of members, Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal, has thanked Brian Edwards for the public acknowledgement of our Volunteer Brigade and its work.
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18 June 2012
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document.write("Volunteer Awareness Week got off to a good start for the Brigade when, at an Honours function on Saturday night, we recognised members’ service to the community. 10 members received the Queen’s Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, or bars. 25 members were due honours from the United Fire Brigades’ Association, ranging from a certificate for 3 years’ service (Dion Rosario) to a gold bar signifying 39 years (Jim Smith). 55 members also received either a medal, or a bar, to mark International Year of the Volunteer plus 10, a reminder that last year was the 10th anniversary of a most successful United Nation designated ‘year’, 2001 when volunteer effort around the globe was especially acknowledged and celebrated. The Brigade also took the opportunity on Saturday to farewell several members who were leaving, as well as Auckland Central Area Manager, Brian Edwards, who is retiring from the New Zealand Fire Service after 49 years’ service. ");
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14 June 2012
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document.write("3 of the Unit’s newer members were among those attending the first-ever course for Volunteer Operational Support personnel held at the NZFS National Training Centre in Rotorua at the weekend. The Unit also provided 2 trainers for the two-day course, attended by recruit members from Brigades up and down the country. More of our members will be attending the same course which is being repeated on subsequent weekends this month. There’s emphasis on practical exercises, using the 20 million dollar training facilities, Stage 2 of which was opened a few months ago. ");
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10 June 2012
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Truck v Car v Pole...
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document.write("On the evening of 9 June, Operational Support members spent a couple of hours at a motor vehicle crash on Mt Smart Rd in Onehunga after a truck hit a car and shunted it into a power pole. No lines came down so power in the area was not interrupted for local residents... lucky, because it was the night of the first test between the All Blacks and Ireland. Mt Smart Rd is a busy through route, but traffic flows were maintained by members using using a contraflow.
Just after midnight on the same evening, members responded to a crash on Donovan St in Blockhouse Bay where a car hit a power pole and a person was trapped in the vehicle. ");
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22 May 2012
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document.write("About 20 members of the brigade attended a fire at Diocesan school in central Auckland. As well as managing traffic and the large numbers of people who were coming to events in other parts of the school complex,
members were tasked with helping crews position fireground appliances and assist with the setup/ operation of a breathing apparatus cylinder staging area. The unit's canteen also served welcome meals to members who attended this call, along with those who went to a concurrent incident - a motor vehicle crash at nearby Manukau Rd. ");
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4 May 2012
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Emily Knight
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document.write("QFF Fiona Knight and her husband David recently welcomed the
arrival of the brigade's youngest prospective member, Emily Fiona
Grace. Emily was born on 23 April weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces and is the couple's first child.
She is the first born to an actively serving female member of the Auckland Operational Support unit. The brigade offers Fiona and David hearty congratulations and as many hours of sleep as possible. ");
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30 April 2012
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document.write("Auckland Operational Support assisted emergency services at a chemical incident in Favona on Friday 27 April, 2012. Members provided traffic control and scene protection, and our Canteen unit served meals for 25 people. ");
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11 April 2012
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Flint and Amber
To avoid radio traffic, SSO Officer contacts Auckland comms the old fashioned way
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document.write("Several members and operational support vehicles were part of the Fire Service's Fire + Rescue open day at MOTAT in central Auckland last weekend.
The unit's canteen, operational support 2 and operational support 3 were on show, while members carried out a range of tasks to help with the smooth running of the event.
They were on hand to greet and assist members of the public, help with vehicle movements around the grounds and crowd safety at the kitchen fire demonstration. The venue's theatre was used to show visitors a slideshow of pictures from the brigade's time in Christchurch in the aftermath of the February earthquake.
Two members donned the outfits of mascots Flints and Amber and once these duties were over were among a few who got a bird's eye view of the event thanks to the crew of Parnell's aerial appliance.
MOTAT staff also treated members remaining at the end of the day to experience the Voyager 1 motion movie simulator.
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6 March 2012
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QFF Nick Clifford with his wife and groomsmen. QFF Jonathan Sadler at far right.
Attending Members of Auckland OSU (L-R): QFF Potter, CFO Teal, QFF Mason, QFF Stillwell, Lisa & QFF Nick Clifford, SSO Officer, QFF Foster, SO England, QFF Batterbee & Groomsman QFF Sadler.
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document.write("Several members of Auckland Operational Support were privileged to be invited to share in the celebrations of another wedding on Friday. QFF Nick Clifford married his partner Lisa at West Auckland's Waitakere Estate, timing his outdoor ceremony perfectly to dodge showers associated with the 'weather bomb' which hit Auckland only hours afterward.
Also in attendance was Operational Support 2, providing both support and some light entertainment to the wedding party, which included QFF Jonathan Sadler as one of the Groomsmen. The Chief Fire Officer of Auckland Operational Support, Glenn Teal, wished Nick and Lisa every blessing and success for the future, on behalf of the entire Unit. ");
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4 March 2012
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document.write("The brigade was braced for an eventful night after forecasters warned of a storm that would bring heavy rain and strong gales. Those who responded to the first call braved the conditions at a motor vehicle accident in Massey, involving two cars. They took responsibility for road closures while the serious crash unit worked at the scene. Part way through the incident members were called to a fire at a Mt Albert business - where members assisted traffic travelling past appliances and undertook general fireground duties. ");
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21 February 2012
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document.write("Auckland Operational Support has received a very generous donation of four GPS navigation units from Tomtom Australia/New Zealand. This will allow the brigade to upgrade the GPS devices in its vehicles. The Go Live 1000 models were released last year and offer a number of features such as a larger, more readable screen; lane maps of major intersections; a magnetic mount; and live traffic services. ");
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20 February 2012
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document.write("A deluge of rain sparked a busy night in the western suburbs of Glendene and Glen Eden recently. Responding members closed roads amid large floods, where residences and businesses were damaged. Members were then called on to manage traffic when a house flooded nearby. A third call saw members turn out to a fatal vehicle crash on Coatesville Riverhead highway, requiring the scene to be secured for several hours. ");
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19 February 2012
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Members participated in a variety of training tasks at our training on Monday 13 February, 2012.
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document.write("After a slow start, members of Auckland OSU were kept busy assisting the NZ Fire Service at emergency events throughout December and January, with 12 calls logged between Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, and a further 32 calls during the month of January. This total includes significant fire calls in Otahuhu, Onehunga & Green Bay, HAZMAT calls in Parnell, Kingsland and Epsom and Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs) in Penrose, Massey and Torbay.
More recently a few of our members have been amongst the members of the public who have been witness to (and part of the first response to) incidents as they've occurred, and our Unit has subsequently attended MVAs in Henderson and Ellerslie as a result. Aucklands unusual Summer weather pattern has also seen us turned out a few times to assist with effects-of-weather; as recently as Friday members responded to Riverhead to assist with arcing power lines and the hazard posed to traffic as a result.
In other news, a period of reduced business during January (awarded by Brigade management in recognition of the period of intensive operations during the last few months of 2011) was ended with our 2012 training kickoff on Monday, entailing a refresh and review of many of our core skills. A full calendar of training events is already published and the Unit looks forward to an exciting year ahead. ");
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19 February 2012
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Firefighters and OSU attended a 3rd alarm on Anzac Ave, CBD.
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document.write("Members responded to two greater alarm fires at the start of February. More than 20 responded to a car wreckers' premises in industrial Onehunga after a stack of cars destined for recycling caught fire. Members carried out traffic management, refreshments and fireground duties. The incident was followed two days later by another significant call - this time to a blaze in an unoccupied building in the CBD. Duties included managing a large crowd of onlookers. ");
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