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23 December 2015
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White as snow... foam surrounds the power transformer after the fire was extinguished
A shed fire spread to involve a fence and then a power transformer
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document.write("Part of Favona, a south Auckland suburb, took on a White Christmas look by the time firefighters got the better of a transformer blaze on Favona Road. A shed fire on private property spread to the electricity transformer and the blaze escalated when oil coolant caught alight. Extinguishing it had to await advice from Vector, after which firefighters fought the fierce fire using 2 foam branches. They left a carpet of snow-like foam. Meanwhile, busy Favona Road was closed for several hours. Earlier in the day there was a call-out to a crash involving five cars on Onehunga Mall, the result of a police chase through Mt Albert, Mt Roskill and Onehunga streets. At both incidents members provided support services including closing roads: it was the same later in the day at a motor accident at Takanini where power lines had been brought down.
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22 December 2015
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The crash on Te Rakau Drive caused detours for some 3 hours
Last evening's fire at Birkenhead severely damaged the bungalow
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Everyone's busy in the run-up to Christmas! Our Brigade's no different. In the last 5 days members have responded to 22 calls. On Friday here were 3 callouts. There was no let-up on Saturday with 6 calls including a long-duration job at Ti Rakau Drive, Pakuranga where two cars had collided, one smashing into a traffic light standard and the driver absconding. Some members went straight on to another car crash in New North Road, Mt Albert, and then continued to a car versus power pole in Blockhouse Bay Road. On Sunday there were calls to 2 house fires. Monday's tally of 6 calls included a vegetation fire at Stillwater, a 2nd alarm in a CBD building, and a house fire at Birkenhead on Auckland's North Shore. So far, today's calls have been to a gas-line rupture in Pt Chevalier, a 3-car crash in New Windsor, a house fire and delivery of the Ablutions Trailer to the ongoing vegetation fire at Stillwater.
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10 December 2015
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document.write("Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal, says the 2014/15 year was one of the busiest for our brigade. Year ended June 2015, members attended 617 incidents, confirming we remain the busiest volunteer fire brigade in New Zealand... and noting that these were all \"working jobs\". Addressing the Brigade's Annual General Meeting earlier this week, Glenn said that most call-outs were to persons-trapped motor vehicle crashes (240) and most-performed duties were traffic management and road closures. Fires accounted for 234 responses. \"Notwithstanding the busy year we had,\" he said, \"the brigade has a number of projects and improvements underway to prepare for the future. To add to this work there'll be some changes in personnel in the next year, we will retain the intensive training schedule and continue recruitment from the waiting list\". Brigade Treasurer, Senior Station Officer Allan Officer, told the AGM that Brigade's finances remain very sound. ");
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5 December 2015
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On impact, the car's engine was ripped out and flung clear of the crash-site
Those attending this afternoon's Avondale house fire pose to mark the special day.
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document.write("Today is International Volunteer Day, an initiative led by the UN, and for our brigade the special day began at midnight with our members engaged at 3 different incidents spread across Greater Auckland, our area of operations. Two were long-duration jobs. First a 2-car head-on crash on State Highway 16 at Riverhead which left 2 people seriously hurt and another 2 with lesser injuries. Then the brigade was responded to Highland Park in East Auckland to assist at the scene of hit and run accident... a woman walking her bicycle along the median strip was critically injured when she was knocked down by an SUV which did not stop. Minutes later the 3rd call was paged, to a house fire in Mt Roskill.
After this most appropriate launch to Volunteer Day members were out on the job again this afternoon, to a second alarm house fire in Avondale.
Volunteering...it's what we do!
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26 November 2015
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document.write("Our members will be represented at tomorrow's Fire Service funeral for a long-time member of Silverdale Volunteer Fire Brigade. Trevor Hewitt Capon was in his 82nd year. He joined Silverdale Brigade in 1957 and rose to Deputy Chief Fire Officer, office he held when he resigned in 1970. Not done with service to the community, he rejoined, enrolling with the Brigade's Operational Support team in 2007. He retired in March this year. Trevor was honoured just a few months ago when he was made Honorary Life Member of the Brigade. His death ends something of a dynasty connecting the Capon family with their local brigade: son Nigel heads Operational Support and grandson Daniel is a senior fire-fighter. Our condolences go to them and their families. ");
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23 November 2015
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Members put in blocks, closing busy roads at Remuera and Whitford incidents
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document.write("Few, if any, brigades can match the number and range of activities our Brigade participated in over the weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday were notable for the different types of calls as well as the high number of turn-outs: a chemical-based fire at Ports of Auckland, a vehicle being salvaged from Waikato River at Mercer (turned out to be no one inside), a full emergency alert at Ardmore Airport (light plane landed safely), a rubbish fire on the outskirts of Riverhead Forest (mobile canteen responded), a car-fire involving occupants in Mangere, a second alarm fire in an office block on the North Shore and another second alarm at Epsom Normal Primary School where there was a suspicious blaze in a roof void. Both motor vehicle accidents we attended turned into long-duration jobs: one at Orakei Road, Remuera, on Saturday morning (see previous article), the other on the Whitford-Maraetai highway later the same day. There were 9 calls over the weekend. In addition members took part in two planned events - a fire safety initiative \"Siren and Sounds\" expo at Avondale on Saturday and assisting with traffic management at the Glenfield Santa Parade on Sunday. ");
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21 November 2015
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Orakei Road... a few more white lines after today's accident
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document.write("The day began with attendance at a second alarm fire in the Chorus Building on Auckland's North Shore, closely followed by a call to a motor vehicle crash in Remuera. A station wagon brought down a power pole and wires, and in the crash a quantity of white paint got loose from inside the vehicle, coating Orakei Road. Members put in road blocks for several hours until traffic management contractors took over. This afternoon there was a call to a chemical fire at the Ports of Auckland and just as this was winding down the OSU crew was released to attend a serious car accident on the Whitford/Maraetai Road. Again, members put in road blocks while the main highway was closed for several hours. ");
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17 November 2015
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The review of fire services was announced at the UFBA Conference in Wellington
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document.write("Our Brigade's Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, welcomes the announcement that the review of fire services has been decided and is underway. \"The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Peter Dunne, has chosen reform amalgamating urban and rural brigades with emphasis on regional administration,\" Glenn says, \"which ends several unsuccessful attempts to reform over more than 10 years\". Glenn attended the United Fire Brigades' Association conference where the Minister revealed the significant makeover. \"His priority to retain the volunteer structure and command is to be commended,\" Glenn says, \"but, most important, his realisation that meaningful work must be put in to ensure sustainability of the volunteer ethos and effort. This is vital to ensure the future of volunteer brigades up and down New Zealand\". ");
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13 November 2015
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document.write("Our brigade representatives were among those in Wellington who, this afternoon, were first to hear details of the total make-over of fire services.
Minister of Internal Affairs, Peter Dunne, told the United Fire Brigades conference that it's been agreed to thoroughly reform fire services, with a focus on meeting community expectations.
Peter Dunne says there will be a new nation-wide board, to coordinate all services through a network of regional committees. These, he says, will ensure efficient operations, resources, personnel and funding to meet present and future emergency responses.
\"What's wanted, is new thinking. To reform fire services, but to preserve all that works well now.\" ");
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2 November 2015
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First call of the day: damage was confined to the rear of the Mt Albert house
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document.write("Our brigade's week has begun busily with 7 call-outs today. The first was to a house fire in Mount Albert, the thick black smoke attracting many 111 calls and the suggestion that occupants may be trapped inside. This was not the case. Fire severely damage one side and the rear of the dwelling. Some members returning from this call were attached to assist at a gas leak on the North Shore, but were stood down. They were immediately diverted to Stoddart Road, Mt Roskill, where a car had knocked into a power pole, left leaning into the roadway. Members took over traffic management at Maioro Street intersection, the busy connection with the South West Motorway. Meanwhile other members went to call number 4 of the day, a gas leak in Valley Road, Mt Eden. To round off the busy period, there was response to a car crash in Stanmore Bay and then to a second alarm in Mangere East where fire swept through an unoccupied house in Kivell Close. Later in the day members attended a factory fire in Henderson. And there wasn't much let-up. Soon after midnight members were attending a house fire at West Harbour.
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1 November 2015
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The family car was lost in the garage fire at Manurewa
The scene at today's ASB Auckland Marathon
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document.write("Events this weekend included calls to several fires and motor vehicle accidents and community-assistance at the ASB Auckland Marathon today. Two calls at once yesterday afternoon - the first to a garage fire in Manurewa. The fierce blaze appeared to be a house fire at first, attracting large numbers of sightseers. The blaze consumed the garage and the family car inside. The simultaneous call was to a motor vehicle accident in Remuera where the car's occupant was trapped in the wreckage. This incident also created much local interest so members closed the road while firefighters continued extrication. Today, as has been the case for several years, brigade members act as marshals at the Auckland Marathon assisting with traffic management, this time at the busy downtown Fanshawe/Halsey intersection. More than 11,000 runners entered the various events... one of the main tasks was keeping them separated from traffic as, together with friends and supporters, they streamed out of Victoria Park at the conclusion of their gruelling events. ");
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15 October 2015
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The fire was in one of the oldest wooden buildings at Greenwoods Corner
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document.write("Today's early morning call-out was to a fire centred in a block of shops on Manukau Road at Greenwoods Corner, Epsom. Firefighters cornered the blaze, restricting it to mostly the rear of the shops in the two-storeyed premises. The kauri-timbered building at the corner of Ngaroma Road is one of the oldest at Greenwoods Corner - typical of its time: two shops on street level with accommodation above. One shop, converted to an interior design studio, was worst damaged. Investigators are seeking the cause. Members provided traffic management, lighting and refreshments.
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10 October 2015
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Firefighters dressed in protective clothing deal with last night's chemical spill
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document.write("Members were engaged in an overnight emergency after chemicals were found to be leaking from a container in a yard off Stanley Street, Parnell. Said to be \"highly flammable, toxic substances\", fire crews contained the spill using absorbent. Our members provided traffic management and scene safety: the mobile canteen also turned out. They were on site until after 1.30am, about the same time another call the brigade attended was also concluding... a 3-car motor accident on Mt Eden Road near Mt Eden Village. One person was extricated from one car by firefighters. All three vehicles had to be towed away including a parked car suffering extensive side-swipe damage.
Last night's chemical spillage recalls the 4-day Parnell Fumes emergency in 1973. It too, was leakage from a consignment of chemicals in transit. The fumes caused 6,000 Parnell residents to be evacuated. Many fell ill: more than 600 people required hospital treatment. An inquiry later led to reform of the law governing transport and storage of dangerous goods.
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3 October 2015
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One of 3 vehicles involved in tonight's crash on SH16.
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document.write("Members have tonight been assisting at a serious motor accident on State Highway 16, north-west of Waimauku. Three cars were involved and St John attended to a total of 11 patients: those most serious were flown to hospital by helicopter. Firefighters cut at least one victim from one of the vehicles while another was found to have careered off the highway, down a 10m bank on to farmland, out of sight from the road. Emergency services took some time to evacuate all the injured and then police began their investigation. Our members responded at quarter past six and were on site for four and a half hours maintaining cordons to close the highway, a task shared with Silverdale Operational Support personnel and a traffic management company. Meanwhile, there was a firecall to the glassworks in Ellerslie. Fire in the roof warranted a 3rd Alarm response. ");
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2 October 2015
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The scene in Brown Street, Ponsonby where the eldery woman died in a house fire
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document.write("Today's early morning 3rd Alarm response to Brown Street, Ponsonby, has left an elderly woman dead, along with a number of her small dogs. Her house was badly damaged by the blaze. Firefighters from nearby Ponsonby Station were first on the scene - they found the house already engulfed in fire and spreading to the next door neighbour's. After what a fire officer describes as a \"gruelling search\" through the smoke-filled house, firefighters found the woman's body and a number of dead dogs. Our members were kept busy at the scene with traffic and scene management, lighting, command point and general fireground duties. Members also responded in the mobile canteen to provide on-site refreshments at the long-duration event. It was the second serious fire attended overnight. The other was in Mangere East, a blaze in one of a three-unit Housing New Zealand block on Massey Road. At this call it was also thought persons may still be in the burning building but fears were unfounded: the family arrived on the scene soon after to find their home badly damaged. ");
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29 September 2015
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Duke Street was closed for hours, blocked by the fallen power pole and live wires.
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document.write("The driver of a stolen station wagon had a lucky escape after the vehicle slammed into a double power pole and spate telephone pole in Mt Roskill this morning. The double pole held an overhead transformer which crashed in to the street. The driver of the wagon somehow managed to make a getaway through the mangled vehicle and myriad of high-voltage power wires. Police investigating the vehicle said it had been stolen and had un-matching number plates. Members cordoned Duke Street for several hours until a traffic management company took over. ");
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28 September 2015
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document.write("Mercer Volunteer Fire Brigade marked 2 milestones at the weekend. The Brigade celebrated its jubilee... and Chief Fire Officer Clive Whitffield was presented with a Gold Star medal for 25 years' service. In March 1965 seven locals - Ronald Campbell, Robert Hills, Horace Russell, Raymond Savage, Wilfred Thorn, Clyde Worrell and Eric Youngman - got together to form Mercer Fire Brigade, an auxiliary of Tuakau, with little equipment on a trailer. It was later replaced by a hand-me-down fire engine and a shed was built to accommodate it. In latter years a new station was built and Mercer now has a state-of-the-art appliance. Clive Whitffield has been associated with the Brigade for all 25 years of his service. ");
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26 September 2015
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document.write("Last night's 3rd alarm call-out was in response to reports of an explosion and then a large fire showing up in the industrial area at Glendene, in Auckland's western suburbs. Firefighters thought a factory or a warehouse was alight but once they accessed the flames down long driveways they found it was a house surrounded by commercial premises, probably the only accommodation in the industrial area. Firefighters believe the fire was triggered by an exploding gas bottle inside the house. All the occupants, including children, made their escape. Members were deployed on a full suite of support duties ... all tasks except salvage: the gutted house was cordoned, subject to examination by fire investigators. ");
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11 September 2015
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Our first XI: brigade members who today conquered Sky Tower
S.O. Andrew Galloway comes back to earth after the Memorial Stair Climb.
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document.write("The Brigade took part in this evening's stair climb to honour those, especially fire-fighters, who lost their lives 14 years ago during the New York World Trade Centre terrorists' attack. The 9/11 ceremony also recalls New Zealand fire-fighters who died in the course of duty. Following a brief formal service led by our member, S.S.O. Ross Bay, scores of firefighters made the testing climb 1,276 steps to the top of the Sky Tower. 11 members of our brigade successfully completed the climb. Others assisted with traffic management in city streets surrounding the tower.
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8 September 2015
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Firefighters extricated patients from both cars involved in the head-on crash
The helicopter landed on the Intersection of SH16 and Matua Road
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document.write("Members attended a motor vehicle accident on State Highway 16 north of Kumeu yesterday, mid-afternoon. The head-on collision between two cars resulted in multiple casualties including patients with severe injuries who were trapped in both vehicles. One occupant, once extricated by fire-fighters, was flown to hospital in the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Our members assisted with road closures and scene protection - the mobile canteen attended the long-duration event. The Highway was closed for 3 hours while police undertook investigations, the vehicles salvaged and debris cleared. ");
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31 August 2015
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One of the car crashes attended over the weekend - Felton Matthew Avenue, St Johns
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document.write("The brigade had a busy weekend, what with many call-outs as well as its Honours Evening, held on Saturday night.
There were 4 calls on Friday beginning with a fire in a Mt Roskill laundromat which seriously damaged the premises. This was followed by a blaze in a Ponsonby takeaway shop and an outbreak in a garage at Goodwood Heights where it was first thought there might be people trapped inside. Friday night ended after a turnout to a car crash in Papatoetoe. Saturday evening's responses were to a car crash in St Johns and another in Mangere. The latter call came in during the Brigade's Honours Ceremony: the duty crew responded direct from the venue, Sorrento. Sunday morning the Brigade was called to a 3 car collision at the busy intersection of Great South Road and Ron Wood Avenue in Manukau, followed later in the day by a garage fire on Mt Wellington Highway and a call to Onehunga. Members were turned back when smoke issuing from a service station there was found to be a false alarm.
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30 August 2015
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Singers from the Holy Trinity Cathedral welcomed SSO Bay along with members and guests with their vocal talents.
SSO Ross Bay looks on as DCFO Ric Carlyon, on behalf of the President of the UFBA, presents his Gold Star.
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document.write("The Brigade has a new member of the exclusive Gold Star \"club\".
Senior Station Officer Ross Bay was last night presented with the United Fire Brigades' Association Gold Star recognising 25 years' contribution to the fire service and the community. Ross, who's also Anglican Bishop of Auckland, received his award at a ceremony attended by senior Fire Service executives, Fire Brigade Associations together with his wife, Jacquie, and friends. There was a neat link with the church when singers from Holy Trinity Cathedral set the evening off with a bracket of songs. Ross is the 25th member of the brigade to receive a Gold Star since the then Fire Police Unit was formed in 1933
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28 August 2015
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The O'Donnell Avenue laundromat was badly damaged by today's fire
Firefighters cut through roofing iron to access last pockets of fire
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document.write("Members turned out early today to a 2nd Alarm fire call at a laundromat in O'Donnell Avenue, Mt Roskill. The fire badly damaged the building and destroyed washing machines and driers in one part of the premises: other machinery and fittings were damaged by heat and smoke. Firefighters had to access the roof void to snuff out last pockets of fire. It's the second laundromat fire in the district in recent weeks - the first in Sandringham was put down by fire investigators to spontaneous combustion caused by closely folded laundry stacked while warm. Investigators are looking into today's blaze. Members lit the premises and provided scene safety during firefighting operations. ");
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22 August 2015
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The shattered wall between the garages was reduced to a pile of bricks
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document.write("A double garage in Brighton Road was wrecked in this afternoon's explosion - and fire destroyed the contents: several prized motorcycles. Firefighters dealt with flames and investigators are now trying to find the cause. The explosion shattered a brick wall separating the garages and the doors blew out, carried into the street. No one was hurt. Members closed Brighton Road during fire-fighting. Several special motorcycles, stored by an enthusiast, were lost in the flames. ");
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16 August 2015
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Both the power pole and the vehicle were wrecked at the Pah Road crash
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document.write("Members turned out to two similar motor accidents at the same time earlier today, one in Royal Oak, the other in Henderson. In Pah Road, Royal Oak, a car smashed into a power pole fracturing it many times, bringing down high-voltage wires which were draped across the vehicle. The occupant(s) somehow managed to scramble from the debris before emergency services arrived. It's thought to have been a stolen car. At Henderson it was the same sort of scenario: car into a pole with live wires. At both locations members put in cordons and road blocks until traffic management contractors took over. Just as members were all clear of both these events the brigade responded to a woman fallen over the cliff near Ladies Bay, St Heliers. A damaged car was nearby, having crashed into a road-side safety barrier. The Fire Service's High-Angle Rescue Team joined rescue efforts and the woman was stretchered up on to Cliff Road: she was not seriously injured. ");
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11 August 2015
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document.write("Salvage has resumed today to recover a crashed rubbish truck in the North Shore suburb of Birkenhead. Late morning yesterday the truck left the road on a bend in Hebe Place, crashed into bush and capsized on to its side. A woman was killed, another person is in hospital. It was a long-duration task for emergency services to free the injured person and to recover the body of the deceased. Workers were faced with a scene on a steep, slippery, bush-clad slope at the foot of a no-exit road. Salvage, involving several heavy-haulage cranes, then continued off-road in difficult terrain and in heavy rain. But late afternoon it was decided to postpone operations until today because of these conditions and failing light. Our members responded in two vehicles: a third, the mobile canteen, later turned out to serve hot meals to emergency and other personnel on-site. Our Brigade was involved for 6 hours until operations were called off for the day. ");
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7 August 2015
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document.write("Fire was the showstopper at an adult entertainment club in downtown Auckland early today. All activities at Showgirls were quickly pole-axed after reports of smoke billowing from the top of the building. Management immediately turned off the music, dancing came to sudden end and the patrons, together with staff, were told to get out. All escaped without harm. It was second alarm fire with 2 aerial appliances extended. Members closed Customs Street East to traffic and provided scene and crowd protection. Fire investigators are trying to find the source, and cause, of ignition. ");
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30 July 2015
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Breaking upstairs windows alerted neighbours of this morning's fire in Remuera
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document.write("Fire crews rescued 4 occupants in a blazing Remuera flat earlier today... one woman was immediately resuscitated by firefighters at the scene before being taken to hospital in critical condition. Two others found in burning first-floor rooms were also taken to hospital. Fire Officers say they found the woman who wasn't breathing in the upstairs bathroom where, they surmise, she went to try to shelter from the fire or mistook her way out in the thick black smoke. Members closed Rotomahana Terrace, blocked by emergency vehicles, lit the exterior of the building and performed fireground assistance.
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20 July 2015
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The oil spillage closed the main road in and out of Tuakau
The clean up in Tuakau begins with sand being spread
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document.write("The main road in and out of Tuakau township was closed for several hours yesterday afternoon following an extensive oil spillage from a road tanker. The truck was carrying recycled motor oil and it's thought up to 10,000 litres may have escaped from its ruptured tank, flowing over the main road and railway track and along Ryders Road where the vehicle stopped. Firefighters prevented oil flowing into the adjacent Whakapipi Stream. Some workers decanted what was left in the ruptured tank while others spread absorbent and sand to soak up the slippery black substance. Members, working from two OS vehicles, maintained cordons for several hours until absorbent was laid and handed over to traffic management. ");
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20 July 2015
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2nd Alarm house fire in Ayr Street, Parnell
Damage at the rear and in the roof: Mangere house fire
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document.write("Members responded to 11 incidents over the weekend, our busiest for some time. The focus was on house fires - 5 in all - at Opaheke, Parnell, Mangere, Hillsborough and in Mt Wellington, where an elderly woman died. There were 3 calls as the result of Saturday morning’s storm to Paerata, Pukekohe (power wires down) and Papatoetoe (tree blown down). (See other news item).
On Saturday night the Brigade was called to a multi-vehicle crash on Mt Albert Road. Although it was one accident, members dealt with two \"incident scenes\" because damaged cars were some 200m apart. Sunday, and members responded to Tuakau where thousands of litres of motor oil spilled from a road tanker. (See other news item).
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18 July 2015
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The spreading tree, growing on the verge, fell across the house
The BMW, crushed by the tree trunk, awaits recovery
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document.write("Very heavy rain, combined with powerful wind gusts and what have been described as \"mini-tornadoes\" caused widespread damage in many parts of Auckland today. Members responded to several incidents, including one at Papatoetoe where freak gusts felled a large tree. Its upper limbs crashed into a house breaking roof tiles but the trunk landed atop a late model BMW car parked on the front lawn. The tree also took out power lines blacking-out neighbouring houses. Members waited until Vector staff made the lines safe and firefighters had trimmed the tree. Arborists are dealing with the rest.
Just as soon as the storm passed members were alerted to a Second Alarm house fire in Ayr Street, Parnell. The busy through-road had to be closed during fire-fighting operations. ");
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11 July 2015
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View from the office: Eagle parked outside the mobile canteen, SH16
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document.write("The mobile canteen had an unusual visitor when the police helicopter Eagle dropped in on State Highway 16 at Helensville. It was if the chopper crew recognised the canteen from above, realised they were on to a good thing and put down for morning tea of hot drinks and chocolate biscuits! In truth there had been a fatal accident along the road involving a truck-and-trailer and a car, and the police helo arrived as part of Serious Crash Unit investigations. Although a clear sunny day, it was very cold out in the open so hot drinks from the canteen were greatly appreciated by all emergency services workers at the scene. As well as attending in the canteen members maintained road blocks. ");
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9 July 2015
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Firefighting operations at the rear of St James Theatre
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document.write("The heritage-protected St James Theatre was damaged in an overnight fire which escalated to a 3rd Alarm. Members assisted with road closures to protect fire-fighting operations in the Queen/ Wellesley/ Lorne/ Rutland Streets area. The mobile canteen attended. Other members were engaged in crowd control and security of premises. Restoration isunderway in the historic 87 year old theatre, parts of which have only recently been open to the public since a major fire in 2007 closed the building in the interest of safety. The latest overnight outbreak was contained to an area in the basement: fire investigators are seeking its cause. ");
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26 June 2015
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Auckland Operational Support might be a great place to start looking....!
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document.write("Brigade on a High!
It's National Volunteer Week, promoted by Volunteering New Zealand to recognise the nationwide contribution by volunteers who participate in so many ways. The week-long focus is also used to encourage those who are not yet volunteers to join an organisation and \"pitch in\". Volunteer Week coincides with the completion of the Brigade's operational year and once again we have shown our value to the Fire Service and community - call numbers are well up and it will be our busiest year since 2008. It's estimated 1.2 million Kiwis volunteer in some way and a recent independent assessment of the value of the work by New Zealand's volunteer firefighters is $529 million each year. Contribution well worth celebrating during National Volunteering Week!
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21 June 2015
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Those waiting to pay their respects at today's Memorial Service
John Grant's grave at Waikumete with replica V.C. medal and poppies
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document.write("Firefighters who served overseas during conflict were this afternoon remembered at a Memorial Service at Auckland's Waikumete Cemetery. Timed as an event to help mark 100 years since World War One, the service was the first of its kind: to remember firefighters who, during times of war swapped their fire brigade uniform they served in at home for military dress during various campaigns overseas. The service was held near the grave of John Grant, a volunteer fireman from Hawera, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for valour while dealing with the enemy at Bancourt in France in 1918. The Anglican Bishop of Auckland, the Right Reverend SSO Ross Bay, a member of the Brigade, led the service and told those present that John Grant’s service typifies the selflessness and sacrifice shown by firefighters who went overseas on active service. Members of the brigade were on hand at Waikumete to support organisers of the Service. ");
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20 June 2015
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The car, wrapped around the tree, was winched clear to allow extrication
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document.write("A car collided with a tree in Kirkbride Road last night, ending up wrapped around a Pohutukawa, totally enveloped by the tree's limbs and branches. One person was quickly rescued from the wreckage but another occupant was trapped. Firefighters used a chainsaw to remove several branches from the tree to enable better access for St John personnel to treat the patient. Meantime, other firefighters prepared a wire rope and winch, a Tirfor (R), to inch the vehicle clear of the tree so the severely injured man could be extricated, treated at the scene and removed to hospital. Members assisted - lighting the scene and closing Kirkbride Road for two hours until operations ended. ");
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6 June 2015
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Today's display of appliances, old and new, at Papatoetoe
Former Fire Officers Frank Burton and Trevor Thompson with the 1956 Ford
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document.write("It was spit-and-polish and brass helmets this morning in Old Papatoetoe for the first ever Fire Truck Muster. After parading through local streets some 25 fire appliances, old and new, were on show in the Tavern Lane Car Park. They were a crowd pleaser, particularly the aerial appliances raised aloft. The event, which is hoped to become annual, is organised by Papatoetoe Community Ex-Firefighters Charitable Trust, a group with its headquarters at the old Fire Station in St George Street and comprising some members of the former Papatoetoe Volunteer Fire brigade, established in 1959. One of its first 2 appliances, a 1956 Ford V8, was in today's parade. Our brigade assisted organisers with traffic control and marshalling. ");
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1 June 2015
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Z Ellerslie was one of the stations supporting our brigade during this years Good in the Hood promo.
Recruit FF Masha Alekseeva was amongst the team to visit several Z stations on Sunday.
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document.write("The Z Energy promotion known as 'Good in the Hood' finished on Sunday, and in a last-ditched effort to drum up support, members visited several of the Z stations hosting the Auckland Volunteer Fire Brigade's donation 'bins'. In amongst filling tanks and cleaning windscreens, was an opportunity to explain our role in the Auckland Emergency Services landscape to several members of the public and in a couple of cases, display the fruits of our past labours (i.e some of the equipment carried on our vehicles). We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who supported us by dropping tokens in our bins at Z stations across Auckland. ");
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30 May 2015
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Meal-time at the USAR exercise
Our Brigade members provide catering in-the-field from the mobile canteen
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document.write("The brigade further cemented relationships with Urban Search and Rescue personnel this week during their exercise in South Auckland. Our members served meals and refreshments from the mobile canteen. This exercise follows others, including during preparations for the USAR team's assessment by international examiners, which it passed with highest marks. Our developing relationship is a far cry from earliest, unsure, days of USAR when we were advised that to provide canteen services at USAR operations all personnel would have to train as technicians and attain qualifications. We are proud to be associated with the team as preferred caterers in-the-field! ");
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30 May 2015
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One person was extricated from the van after this afternoon's crash
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document.write("This afternoon's crash in East Tamaki between a bus and a van turned out to be an extended job with members assisting with road blocks to close Kilkenny Drive. Firefighters extricated one occupant trapped in the wreckage of the van after the head-on collision. The police Serious Crash Unit is investigating the cause. ");
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29 May 2015
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The aerial appliance, its outrigger jacks \"trapping\" the parked car
Firefighters access the roof of the Birkenhead house
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document.write("This afternoon's house fire in Birkenhead escalated to a third alarm when additional resources were required to tackle a deep-seated fire in the wall and roof void of the two-storeyed building. An aerial appliance arrived, only to find a parked car and overhead power lines posed access problems. The car's owner could not be located, so In the end the appliance was positioned more or less surrounding the car, the jib manoeuvred to avoid power lines. Members provided traffic management, scene security and refreshments at the long-duration job. ");
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28 May 2015
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No mistaking the location of this morning's Medical Centre fire
The building suffered but no Kauri trees in the gardens were damaged by the fire
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document.write("This morning's fire in the Four Kauri Family Medical Centre in Mt Albert left the building's reception area and other front rooms gutted. The second alarm fire-fight, just after half past seven, unfolded during the morning commute. Fire appliances restricted lanes in busy New North Road so members provided careful traffic management around the scene to protect operations and minimise congestion. ");
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24 May 2015
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Damage was confined to the carport, thanks to a smoke alarm's early warning
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document.write("A smoke alarm that alerted occupants of an Orakei house in the early hours of this morning saved potentially serious damage not only to one house, but the neighbour's as well. The benefits of smoke alarms were further illustrated when the detector inside the house warned of an incipient fire outside, in the carport. The alarm woke the occupants who managed to contain the blaze until firefighters arrived, who then prevented the fire spreading and extinguished it. Since the houses are close together it was only a matter of time before both would have been involved. Members of our Brigade provided scene lighting and prepared hot drinks. ");
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23 May 2015
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Members of the \"20 Squad\" set out to climb Sky Tower's 51 floors
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document.write("This year's Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge has raised more than a million dollars for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand. 750 accepted the challenge to climb the stairs to the top of the 51-floor structure today, each wearing 25 kgs of firefighting kit, including members of a team who ran a relay from Bluff to participate, fundraising along the way. Also successfully scaling the tower was the \"20 Squad\" made up of non-firefighters: media personalities and major sponsors such as the Chief Executive of Sky City, Nigel Morrison, who during today's climb got to know each of the tower's 1,103 steps very well indeed! Brigade members managed traffic in streets around Sky Tower to ensure the event went smoothly and safely, at the same time maintaining access for the public to all Sky City facilities which had to remain open during the \"invasion\" of firefighters from throughout New Zealand plus their friends and family ");
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17 May 2015
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QFF Mark Potter next to the token bins at Z Mt Albert, where competition is tough!
QFF Mark Biesheuvel helping our cause at Z Pt Chevalier.
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document.write("Members have this weekend visited some of the Z service stations where customers can vote for the Brigade in the Good in Hood fundraiser. Customers at Z service stations are given tokens with each purchase which they use to \"vote\" for a community service: donations are then made according to popularity. The Brigade's been chosen by five Z stations this year and yesterday members called at several locations to sharpen our profile. Reports from Pt Chevalier, Mt Albert and Ellerslie are that the competition's stiff between benefactors and at some service stations we have ground to make up in the voting which ends May 31st. ");
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11 May 2015
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document.write("Members worked traffic management miracles tonight when firefighting operations reduced Nelson Street in the city from five lanes to just two... and during the busy evening peak hours. The blaze was in the former Youthtown building, now a work site, where a power transformer caught alight. Firefighters took additional precautions because potentially hazardous materials were involved and attendance was escalated to a second alarm. Fire appliances and specialist vehicles blocked 3 lanes. \"With careful management, despite cordoning off these lanes, we managed to keep the peak hour traffic moving\", says Chief Fire Officer Glenn Teal, \"saving motorists the inconvenience of detours and preventing further congestion\". And while these operations continued in the central city, members were ending a 2-hour job at rural Clevedon in South Auckland where fire engulfed a large shed and threatened another. No sooner had they finished at Clevedon there was a further call to a motor vehicle accident in Penrose at the intersection of Church Street and Great South Road, arguably the busiest in the district. Our members assisted with traffic management throughout the very busy evening peak hour. ");
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10 May 2015
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Smoke begins to clear from RSA clubrooms at Browns Bay
An unscheduled early-morning shower during decontamination procedures at Ellerslie
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document.write("Members responded to 2 major fires in Auckland early today - at the same time. The first turned out to be a 2nd Alarm call to a suspicious fire in the East Coast Bays RSA building in Browns Bay. Neighbours reported explosions and flames, but the automatic fire alarm had already kicked in and firefighters were quickly on the scene. The clubrooms, escaping serious damage, were smoke-logged. And while firefighters were tackling that blaze their colleagues on the city side were called to a fire in Ellerslie involving a large building used to store and repair cars. This escalated to a third alarm. Some firefighters were put through decontamination processes after it was found they may have been exposed to asbestos. Our members were in an unusual situation about closing the no-exit road, the only access to and from the NZ Herald newspaper presses. After the initial fire-fight the road was opened to enable delivery of today's Herald on Sunday. Our brigade was assisted by Silverdale Operational Support Unit at both calls. ");
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8 May 2015
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A section of the gathering at today's Memorial Service
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document.write("A memorial service was held at City Fire Station today in honour of Allan and Anne Bruce who both died recently in a car crash in Queensland. Allan Bruce had a long career in the fire services on both sides of the Tasman and speakers today spoke of his dedication, innovation, humanity and, as a disciplinarian, a stickler for highest standards. He was also a great sportsman, particularly basketball, in which he is the only person to have captained an international team representing both New Zealand and United Kingdom. In some ways our Brigade owes its existence to Allan Bruce, who in the late-1970s as Chief Fire Officer, laid down an ultimatum to a faltering, disjointed, team. \"Shape up or ship out - if you decide to up your game I will support you, if you want to fade out we'll have a farewell function!\" This focused the minds of the Officers. They decided to give the unit a makeover: Allan Bruce accepted their decision and thereafter always gave his fullest support. That was when we were about 45 years old... we have reached 82. The Brigade was represented at today's service. See also entry for 8th March 2015.
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5 May 2015
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LED lights used here at an Avondale house fire are widely welcomed by Fire Officers
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document.write("The Brigade will be one of this year's benefactors from the Z Energy's promotion \"Good in the Hood\". Patrons at Z service stations are given tokens with each purchase which they use to \"vote\" for a community service: donations are then made according to popularity. This year the brigade's been chosen by no fewer than 5 Auckland service stations. Last year we topped the \"token hunt\" at Airport Skyway Z and used the donation to purchase portable light-weight LED lighting sets. So if you see Auckland Volunteer Fire Brigade among the \"Good in the Hood\" organisations at your local Z service station: vote for us!
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25 April 2015
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OSU lighting makes all the difference at this morning's 3rd Alarm
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document.write("By sheer coincidence this morning's fire in Penrose mirrored, almost exactly, the blaze attended 24 hours before. Both involved commercial premises, they were situated in the Penrose/Te Papapa industrial area, both involving cavernous structures - each with confined interior fires which produced copious quantities of smoke. Today's blaze involved a paper processing facility: yesterday's was a palm kernel storage plant. Both calls were in the small hours, both escalated to third alarms and both premises were in cul-de-sacs. Smoke extraction became a focus from both buildings when the seat of the fire had been dealt-to. Some of our members from this morning's call were excused duty early-on to enable attendance at Anzac Day Dawn Parades.
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24 April 2015
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City Station's Memorial to those firefighters who served in WW1.
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document.write("For nigh on 100 years a bronze memorial has looked down from its central position high on the wall in the appliance hall at Central Fire Station in Pitt Street. It honours those who were serving in the Auckland Fire Brigade and answered the call to arms during the First World War. The plaque was unveiled by the Mayor, James Gunson, in October 1920. \"The Brigade has an enviable record,\" he said, \"of a total of 60 firemen employed, 39 served overseas - significant of the type of men serving in the Brigade\".
Four firefighters were killed.
Corporal Edward Mitchell Pharazyn Rexworthy took part in the landings at Gallipoli at the start of the Anzac campaign, he was injured and recovered to be transferred to France where he was killed in action at the Somme on October 4th 1916.
Sergeant Harry Pickering De Courcey was serving with the N.Z. Entrenching Battalion in France when he died on May 9th 1918 of wounds suffered defending Meteren against German offensives. He was posthumously awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.
Lieutenant Thomas Roland Roth Burns was the Fire Brigade's mechanic and began action at the front with the Anzacs during the landings in April 1915. Wounded, he was evacuated to England for treatment. After convalescence he took flying lessons and transferred to the pioneering Royal Flying Corps in January 1918. He was killed in an aircraft accident on 16th December 1918.
Charles Warner enlisted in May 1916 and saw action in France before being killed during the Battle of Messines in Belgium on June 7th 1917 when New Zealand troops reclaimed surrounding territory.
He was 25 years old and his burial typifies so many soldiers' unknown graves. His records say he was \"buried at the entrance to the gully beside willow trees\", his sacrifice now remembered at Messines Ridge Memorial... and on the plaque at City Fire Station. It bears the names of all the Auckland City brigadesmen who served in the First World War... and it's the focus of a memorial service to be held tomorrow, Anzac Day. Those firefighters from other brigades who served overseas are recorded on other memorials.
100 Years after Gallipoli, We Are Remembering Them ");
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23 April 2015
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document.write("Members exercised almost the full range of their unique support duties at a fire in a panel beater's premises in Boston Road, Mt Eden this afternoon. The callout was elevated to a second alarm when flames swept through a paint shop at the rear of the premises. We managed traffic, closing Boston Road at both Mt Eden Road and Nugent Street intersections. We carried out crowd control nearer the fire itself and we established scene management on outer cordons. Our Control Point duties included gathering nominal roll tallies and then mapping the scene. We also provided refreshments for fire crews. Then, towards the end of the incident, we assisted restoring equipment to fire trucks. Scene lighting? Not required: all operations were concluded before dusk. And Salvage was left for others after scene investigations. ");
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19 April 2015
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The Mt Albert house, once starred in the movie \"Ruby and Rata\"
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document.write("A Mt Albert house was left racked by flames this morning after fire swept through the art-deco residence in Raurangi Road on the slopes of Owairaka. Firefighters from 4 appliances worked to extinguish the blaze which also destroyed a car in the basement garage. The distinctive house featured in the 1990 movie \"Ruby and Rata\", a comedy, which ironically included in the cast wayward 8 year old, Willie, portrayed as a child fire-lighter. Members provided scene protection during the house fire, the second call the Brigade responded to overnight: the other was a long-duration job at an incident in Ash Street, Avondale, where an elderly local woman pedestrian died at the scene after being struck by a car. Operational Support personnel closed the busy arterial route during the emergency and while police carried out scene investigations ");
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18 April 2015
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Contents of the plinth exposed in today's crash in Otahuhu
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document.write("Members closed part of Awa Street in Otahuhu this morning following a car crash near the Mangere Road intersection. A car had mounted the footpath and ploughed into a plinth containing a power transformer carrying 11,000 volts. The structure was forced off its base, its cover shattered but switch-gear and other equipment remained largely intact. The driver was taken to hospital. Vector staff later declared the scene safe allowing the car to be pulled from the plinth and the road reopened. Engineers say power will be off in parts of Otahuhu, affecting businesses, homes and traffic lights, until later in the day when temporary repairs can be made. ");
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11 April 2015
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A patient from this morning's Karaka crash is airlifted to hospital
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document.write("State Highway 22 just west of Drury was closed all morning following a serious head-on car crash near Blackbridge Road before 7am. Two people died as the result of the accident while another remains in serious condition in hospital. The busy highway, one of the main access roads to and from Pukekohe and Waiuku, was blocked either side of the scene while fire-fighters cut victims free of the wreckage and until police carried out investigations and the road cleared of debris. Workmen also dealt with a diesel spillage. ");
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11 April 2015
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Closed - for now: Federal Street blocked by firefighting operations
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document.write("The Third Alarm in downtown Auckland caused problems for Sky City when the main access road to both its Grand Hotel and Casino was blocked by Fire Service operations. Multiple calls, prompted by thick brown smoke pouring from the top of Federal House, originated from a blaze in kitchen ducting in Federal Street Deli. Fire appliances, hoses and equipment soon blocked Federal Street, the one-way street and sole access to Sky City. Diners were forced to leave nearby restaurants and hundreds of office workers were evacuated from surrounding buildings as a precaution - these crowds and extensive traffic management in the busy downtown streets kept our members busy. Sky City casino provided security staff to help with pedestrian control. Fortunately, operations wound down and surrounding streets were restored to normal before the evening traffic hours began. ");
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29 March 2015
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Team Operational Support at the Relay for Life last night
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document.write("The brigade's team successfully completed the Relay for Life earlier today, having had at least one member running or walking the track for 18 hours. They encountered drizzle, heavy rain, mist, fine patches and humidity during their \"journey\" with much cooler temperatures experienced in the early hours of this morning at the Millennium Centre on Auckland's North Shore. It's the first time the Brigade has joined thousands of others in the fundraiser for cancer. Team organiser Acting Station Officer Hayden Chisnall says it's been a fairly steep learning curve. \"If we go again next year we will need more members to participate, helping spread the effort required on the track\". ");
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28 March 2015
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The Brigade's team and supporters, track side at the Relay
Candles were lit to remember Cancer victims
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document.write("The Brigade's team in the Relay For Life will be out on the track overnight, along with hundreds of others, part of a fund-raiser for the Cancer Society. The 18 hour-long event's being held on the Millennium Stadium on the North Shore; the aim is to have at lease one member of each team out on the track for the duration. Earlier tonight a number of Brigade members arrived at the stadium to support our team and to assist with the 9 o'clock Hope Ceremony when runners and walkers pause to remember those who have succumbed to cancer and to look forward to a time when cancer's conquered. It's the first time the Brigade has entered an event to help others in this way - normally members are actively assisting the community 24/7 at all kinds of emergencies. ");
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25 March 2015
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Police meet to ponder possible cause of today's accident on SH16
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document.write("Our brigade was called soon after 6am today to support Kumeu firefighters and police after a two-vehicle, head-on, crash on State Highway 16 between Huapai and Waimauku. Two people, seriously injured, were rescued from the wreckage and taken to hospital. In early morning fog, Members assisted with closures at Trigg Road and Matua Road until the police's Serious Crash Unit had made its investigations and the road made safe. Diversions continued throughout the morning commuter peak hours: school buses were among vehicles making the detour. ");
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24 March 2015
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document.write("The brigade's departing from assisting only those involved at emergency situations - we are fundraising for the Cancer Society, taking part in this weekend's 18 hour-long Relay For Life. As part of the effort to raise funds for Cancer we've taken to Trade Me to auction merchandise and services kindly donated by Auckland businesses. Trade Me is also assisting with zero success fees for our listings which range from gym membership to coffee beans, from garden hoses to body care products. Search for the selection, and on-line auction, at trade.me/operationsupport
View the goods, make some bids and help the Cancer Society at the same time!
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23 March 2015
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The broken power pole which caused road closures in Epsom
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document.write("Members were at a long-duration job today after a truck collided with a power pole in The Drive, Epsom. The mid-morning accident broke the pole in two places and meant transmission lines were left hanging low over the roadway. Using two of our vehicles, members assisted police to close the road and put in diversions... not helped when there was a further incident on the detour in Manukau Road. Special precautions were taken at home-time when pupils from the nearby school crowded on to the Green Lane West intersection. Traffic management was later taken over by contractors. ");
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21 March 2015
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document.write("The Brigade responded to 3 incidents yesterday: the last ending in the early hours of this morning. Tasks included traffic management - road closures - at two of Auckland's busiest and biggest intersections. The first was a mid-afternoon call to Mt Roskill where the fire-fighters were dealing with a hazardous substance, summoned by police who suspected a drug lab in the boot of a car they had stopped. Dominion Road, used by commuters and a route to and from the motorway, was closed at Mt Albert Road, itself a major arterial route. The closure and diversions continued throughout the evening peak hour. Then mid-evening, members turned out to another major road, Universal Drive, Lincoln North, where there was a fatal accident involving a cyclist. A road block was put in at the sprawling Lincoln Road intersection, surrounding streets were closed and exits blocked from numerous car parks in the vicinity. During this call other members responded to Unsworth Heights on the North Shore where a car collided with a tree, trapping two occupants and triggering a serious crash investigation. ");
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18 March 2015
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Andrew Galloway plants a tree at Anakiwa: \"...lasting memorial of a great course\".
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document.write("Brigade member Station Officer Andrew Galloway has returned from the recent \"Navigator Leadership Development Course\" at Outward Bound in the Marlborough Sounds. His participation was sponsored by the New Zealand Fire Service. Andrew says the week-long course at Anakiwa, the McKenzie Watch 603, set out to teach that 'there's more inside you' and he says \"that mantra was well and truly achieved in a series of tough physical and mental challenges - in the classroom, on the water in the Sounds and out in the bush overnight. A wide variety of aspiring and practising leaders participated from a wide range of backgrounds from Reserve Bank economists to salespeople and bank managers. The course was intense... but rewarding\". ");
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10 March 2015
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The overturned truck in Mt Roskill - first in a chapter of call-outs
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document.write("Members attended 4 incidents from mid-afternoon: the effects of 3 of these affected evening peak-hour commuters. The first was in Somerset Road Mt Roskill, a busy throughway skirting Mt Roskill Grammar School where a truck rolled, shedding its load of timber. The driver was unhurt. Members maintained roadblocks until heavy haulage cranes arrived, the truck and debris removed and the roadway made safe. Operational Support 1 was released from this call to go to an accident in Campbell Road, Onehunga, where a truck had brought power lines down across the major East-West thoroughfare. This resulted in major changes in peak-hour traffic patterns in a wide area, even with diversions in place. Almost as soon as members were clear of this incident there was a turn-out to another lines-down incident in Titirangi Road, but this was short-lived and those who responded went on to a three-car crash in Croydon Road, New Lynn. Members, assisted by 3 from Titirangi Operational Support, closed the roads while patients were treated and vehicles and debris removed from the carriageway. ");
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10 March 2015
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\"Breakfast Cooks\" Pat Robinson, Peter Duncan and Mark Biesheuvel at work
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document.write("They say an Army marches on its stomach... the troops have to be well fed. Well, thanks to our Brigade, the Auckland-based USAR contingent was despatched to manoeuvres in the Manawatu having had a full breakfast. More than 50 Urban Search and Rescue personnel are currently on exercises in Palmerston North, part of their application for international accreditation which will enable them to be deployed abroad. Their assessment and planning of an emergency situation is being assessed by Classifiers from overseas, followed by extrication of \"patients\" from beneath piles of concrete rubble simulating a collapsed building. Breakfast for the USAR team before they departed was prepared at Auckland's Regional Headquarters, centred on the mobile canteen, itself \"inspected\" by curious visiting Classifiers who found the concept novel and took photos of it both inside and out. For the record, the breakfast menu included fruit juices, sausages, steak, bacon, eggs and onion with toast, coffee and tea.
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8 March 2015
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Auckland's former Fire Chief and Regional Commander, Allan Bruce
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document.write("Allan Bruce, who had a distinguished career spanning some 20 years in the fire services in Auckland, has died, the result of a motor accident in Palmview on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. The crash also claimed the life of his wife, Anne.
Allan Bruce joined the Wellington Brigade in 1947 before serving with the London Fire Brigade. On his return to New Zealand in 1957 he was appointed Officer at the new Fire Service Training School at Island Bay. He came to Auckland as Deputy Chief on the North Shore until appointed to the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board, as Fourth Officer, then promoted to Deputy in 1963. He was subsequently appointed Chief in 1976 and Regional Commander a year later. Allan Bruce's time as an Executive Officer in Auckland paralleled extraordinary growth and modernisation of the Brigade. Numerous new fire stations were opened, the first aerial platform, \"Snorkel\", appliance was deployed and modern protective uniforms were introduced while turnout arrangements and communications were given a makeover. Some of the innovations introduced to Auckland in Allan Bruce's time survive today. He was strong supporter of the Fire Police Unit (which later became Operational Support).
Early in 1982 Allan Bruce was appointed Chief Officer of the newly formed SA Metropolitan Fire Service where he reorganised brigades.
He retired in 1989 and retained interest in the industry as a consultant. In 2009 he published his book \"Into the Line of Fire\" which, as he wrote \"sets out to find the source of the trouble in the 1990s that almost destroyed a first-class fire service in New Zealand... how and why the situation developed, what went wrong and what it will take to rebuild it from the wreckage...\"
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4 March 2015
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document.write("The Brigade's into fundraising for the Cancer Society. Members are taking part in the Relay for Life on Auckland's North Shore at the end of the month. \"We are well practised in teamwork, assisting at fires and other emergencies, so coordinating a relay over 18 hours won't be a problem\" says organiser, Acting Station Officer Hayden Chisnall. \"We'll have 11 in our team for the overnight event, supported by other members of the Brigade, so we can guarantee we will complete. We look forward to sponsorship, items for auction and donations... knowing others support us will help keep us going. Here's our support page where you can make a contribution... big or small!\"
https://aucklandnorth15.everydayhero.com/nz/operation-support
While we already provide support to the greater Auckland community by volunteering 24 x 7 to attend emergencies, Hayden says this is an opportunity to give back even more... and, let's face it - while fortunately everyone doesn't have a house fire or a traffic accident, in harsh contrast cancer affects everyone. ");
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23 February 2015
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document.write("Four calls so far today. The pre-breakfast call-out to Tegel's Henderson processing plant was to a fire in the roof. Members provided traffic management and scene security. Mid-morning we were called to a serious house fire in Greenlane. The 2-storeyed home was well alight and initially it was feared someone may have been trapped inside. Additional firefighters were called to the scene. Our pager message at lunchtime advised of the first of two motor accidents.The first was in Richardson Road, Owairaka, where 2 vehicles had collided, one of which lost a large quantity of oil on the roadway. Almost immediately the vehicles had been removed and the carriageway made safe, our personnel were on their way to the second incident in Wolverton Street, Avondale where a 2-car collision left a woman with serious injuries. One of the cars demolished a bus stop shelter in which the injured woman was waiting. Members remained for nearly 2 hours to maintain public safety. ");
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21 February 2015
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The scene of today's crash in Greenlane
Night time tree-felling operations in Kelston
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document.write("Our very busy week continues... with 2 more call-outs in the past 24 hours. The first was to a motor vehicle accident on Great South Road, Greenlane, where a car was in collision with a parked car which in turn was shunted into a power transformer. Damage meant oil leaked out, deemed to be a fire hazard until electricity was turned off. Members managed traffic on busy Great South Road until the scene was declared safe. Tonight our Brigade is repeating its role in scene safety at Sabulite Road, Kelston, where a large tree-branch has fallen blocking the roadway. There have been 19 responses by the Brigade in the past 7 days, the busiest being Wednesday with 6 calls, ably demonstrating the range of incidents we turn out to... a house fire at Mangere East, a large shed containing cars on fire at Mangatawhiri, a hazardous chemical event at Lynfield, a gas leak at Mt Roskill, a restaurant on fire at Kumeu and a fatal motor accident at Ranui.
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15 February 2015
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Crowds watching as firefighters extricate victims of a mock car crash
Auckland Airport Emergency Service's Rosenbauer... seldom seen in public
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document.write("Thousands, many in family groups, thronged the Cloud and Shed 10 on the waterfront for this year's \"Staying Alive\" where Auckland's emergency services were on display. The usual 3... Police, Fire and Ambulance ...were joined by the likes of Civil Defence, Water Safety, Defence, Coastguard and the Westpac Helicopter to show off the city's emergency and rescue resources.
Our members, joined by colleagues from Silverdale, assisted during the day with traffic management on busy Quay Street, scene safety during live demonstrations and, from the mobile Canteen, catered for officials and helpers. Firefighters from City Station showed rescue techniques when, several times during the day, they extricated \"victims\" from a mock car crash. St John personnel assisted the \"patient\" throughout the process, replicating what typically occurs at these types of emergencies. Aerial appliances gave a combined display of fire-fighting power with jets of water thrust skywards. But perhaps the star of the show was an appliance seldom seen in public, a monster Rosenbauer Panther tender, recently added to the Auckland Airport Emergency Service's fleet. Named \"Waihoku\", worth more than $1m, its size meant it had to have a police escort while travelling to and from the Open Day. It too, impressed the crowds when it shot jets of water twice as high as the nearby Shed 10.
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5 February 2015
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Vector staff make repairs to damage caused by the collapsed stone wall.
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document.write("The brigade responded to Auckland Zoo in Western Springs this morning after a boundary stone wall collapsed, damaging a gas main. While firefighters outside the zoo attended to the gas leak, zookeepers inside were concerned about Bonnet-headed Macaque monkeys in an adjacent enclosure. The fear was that some of the animals might have been upset by the noise of the collapsing wall and the smell of the escaping gas. It was quickly ascertained the breached outer wall did not pose a security problem - there was little chance the monkeys could escape - and they were moved to another enclosure. Members cordoned off a section of Motions Road and Old Mill Road until the gas leak was made safe. ");
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4 February 2015
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The bus resting against the power pole it snapped, blocking all traffic access along the Peninsula
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document.write("The brigade had members at three calls at once this evening, and all were motor vehicle accidents. The first was in Atkinson Road, Titirangi, a serious crash, where a car had run off into a ditch leaving an elderly man with head injuries. The road was blocked until the patient left the scene and police carried out investigations. The second was a call for assistance by Silverdale Operational Support at a crash on Whangaparaoa Road, Tindalls Beach. A bus, one of the longest bendy-buses, had lost control, sliding down a steep part of the road until it was at right angles across the roadway and hit a power pole, snapping it at the base. No one was injured but the bus which blocked the main road from kerb to kerb could not be moved until the power pole was stabilised. This occurred on a stretch of the peninsula road where no diversions are possible so motorists had to wait for hours until the situation was made safe and the bus removed. The canteen also responded to this long duration job.
The third call was to Te Atatu where a car had collided with a pole. Included in the clean-up was making a large oil slick safe, assisted by the salvage tender from Balmoral Station. The \"all clear\" from this call at 9.10pm ended a busy period for the brigade which had begun just before 5 o'clock.
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1 February 2015
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Simulated rescues were crowd-pleasers at last year's Staying Alive Day.
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document.write("Participants of this year's Emergency Services Day, \"Staying Alive\", have had their final planning meeting and the stage is set for the biggest-yet one-day exhibition on Saturday February 14th on Queens Wharf. The increased number of organisations taking part means that Shed 10 as well as The Cloud will be used to accommodate all the exhibitions. Many emergency services and allied organisations will be mounting static displays but this year there'll be more live displays which have in the past been the crowd-pleasers. It's a rare opportunity to see emergency workers using rescue equipment in simulated scenarios, usually not possible while they're engaged in \"the real thing\".
Gates open at Queens Wharf, downtown, for \"Staying Alive\" at 10am on Saturday February 14th and admission is free
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29 January 2015
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Rescuers swarm around the 4WD in Ponsonby trying to free the crushed man
Morningside Station is deserted, trains stopped, following this evening's fatal accident
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document.write("The Brigade attended 2 serious incidents this evening - the first in Ponsonby, the other at Morningside. At 5pm in Ponsonby a runaway truck from a construction site struck a man, crushing him and pinning him against a 4WD vehicle. Members closed Pollen Street between Crummer Road and Williamson Avenue to allow rescue operations and subsequent police investigations. The man received serious injuries. Just as members were leaving this incident there was a turnout about 7pm to the Morningside Railway Station where a man had been hit by a west-bound train. Again members effected road closures on Morningside Road, provided scene protection and assisted firefighters carry rescue equipment along the track to attempt to rescue the man, trapped under the first carriage. He was pronounced dead at the scene. ");
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28 January 2015
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The scene this morning at the 3rd Alarm at Danske Mobler
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document.write("A persistent fire in Danske Mobler's furniture factory in Three Kings escalated to a 3rd Alarm this morning. Further firefighters were called in to relieve those who had been working in in the heat of a full-on Auckland summer's day. There was an ironic twist that towards the end of firefighting operations there was a local cloud-burst with a prolonged very heavy shower. The no-exit street leading to the burning factory was closed by members to give it over entirely to operations and to avoid congestion. This proved a difficult task - it's shared by other large factories, a storage facility and several blocks of apartments - with many vehicles wanting access. Our response included the canteen, kept busy distributing ice cold drink and serving meals. It turned out to be a long-duration job... members were on site for more than 5 hours. ");
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22 January 2015
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The accident in Penrose that began tonight's string of calls
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document.write("The Brigade's been busy with a succession of calls tonight which has kept members busy from early evening to late night. A brigade's summer barbecue function was interrupted by the first call, a truck versus power pole accident in Penrose. Greenpark Road was closed to all traffic because the pole was unstable, snapped at the base. Just as our barbecue was ending there were two simultaneous calls, one to a second alarm house fire on the North Shore at Campbells Bay where it was initially reported that the occupants may have been trapped inside the burning dwelling. In addition to usual support duties we ferried breathing apparatus cylinders for replenishment at Takapuna. The other call was also a long duration job, a major gas leak in Ponsonby Road. This necessitated traffic management, crowd control and evacuation of bars, restaurants and other business near the busy Pollen Street intersection until Vector workmen could stem the leak. The fourth callout tonight was to Coxhead Road in Manurewa, but this turned out to be a small fire. ");
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19 January 2015
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The unoccupied house was badly damaged
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document.write("Members responded to a house fire on Pakuranga Road in the early hours of the morning. The house, which was unoccupied, has been badly damaged in the blaze, and escalated to a 2nd alarm attendance. The house is very close to the old Panmure Bridge, and a feeder across the road required the busy highway to be closed for a short period until hoses could be relocated. Members maintained traffic management for two hours, provided refreshments, and assisted in making up equipment. ");
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18 January 2015
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A solid wall stopped the runaway crane preventing further damage
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document.write("Members closed Auburn Street in Grafton last evening after a runaway crane brought down power lines and blocked the road. The 30 tonne mobile crane had been left parked on a construction site with its jib down, but early evening it ran away backwards down the sloping access driveway, reversing across Auburn Street before somehow changing direction. It then ran forward for a short distance before crashing into a wall, ending its travels during which it took out safety fencing, knocked over two power poles and brought down power lines. They were left draped across the crane, the whole rig \"alive\". Members remained on site with firefighters until the power was turned off and Vector took over traffic management. ");
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9 January 2015
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Emergency Services await the arrival of the aircraft outside RNZAF Base Whenuapai Fire Flight.
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document.write("This morning shortly after 10am a \"Local Standby\" was put into effect at RNZAF Base Whenuapai, when a Boeing 757 was reporting a hydraulic problem. Members, with AUCKOSU3, responded and stood by with other members of NZFS as the aircraft circled, then landed safely about an hour later.
One of our members snapped the image above, showing Operational Support 3 to the right side of emergency vehicles from NZFS, St John and the Defence Force. ");
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1 January 2015
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document.write("2014 ended with the Brigade having responded to a total of 574 emergency call-outs during the year. House fires accounted for 101 of these, while a similar number involved other buildings and structures. There were 194 responses to motor vehicle accidents. \"The statistics show a consistent year-on-year increase in calls for our support services\", says Chief Fire Officer, Glenn Teal, \"and we know our attendance continues to be appreciated, with gratitude passed on through emails and personally, such as the thanks conveyed by senior Fire Service Executives and Rural Fire Officers just last week at the 5th Alarm call at Cornwallis\".
Our Brigade didn't have to wait long after midnight for its first call of 2015. It was just an hour and a half into the New Year when members were turned out to a serious 2-car motor vehicle accident in the western suburb of Te Atatu. Among other duties, we maintained roadblocks until the injured had been cut free of the wreckage and removed to hospital, police investigations were completed, the vehicles recovered and the road cleaned of debris.
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