[from Russell Green]
A reminder that the open fire season starts on Saturday 1st April.
We would like to thank the residents of Puhoi for conforming to the restricted Fire season, thanks,
Please let everyone know that we can still put it out, even if it doesn’t need a permit, if it is dangerous or a smoke nuisance or burning at night.
Thank you,
Russell
[from our dedicated and always cheerful, Fire Chief, Russell]
Kia Ora,
The Rodney community is getting behind the Puhoi Fire Station appeal, with a Givealittle-athon, timed for Guy Fawkes weekend. We had hoped to get our local radio station, More FM Rodney, in behind the event!
Anyone planning to donate should do it Guy Fawkes weekend!
The Puhoi Fire Station Givealittle campaign, technically, is an ‘open cause’ that runs until 31 May 2017. However, rather than have it drag on for another seven months, a ‘Givealittle-athon’, climaxing on 5–6 November, is underway.
Here’s why:
All that those wishing to receive a reward need to when donating on Givealittle, is to provide their details for an e-receipt, and check the ‘Share my details with Puhoi Volunteer Rural Fire Force’ box.
Check out the rewards—you can even suggest a reward!—at mahurangi.org.nz
This initiative is also being publicised by:
Junction magazine Remember, Remember Puhoi Fire Station 5 November
Mahurangi Matters Puhoi Fire Campaign Rekindled
Rodney Times Puhoi Firefighters Drive for Permanent Home
Your support in promoting this community-led event could really be the difference in gaining momentum over the weekend. Feel free to get in contact with me at any time over the next few days to discuss further.
This month has been unseasonably busy for us. Sadly another fatal crash blocked SH1 putting our local roads under the burden of SH1 traffic, thankfully this time no trucks blocked the road! A water rescue came in early one morning where a boaty became unwell. A reminder to either have a locator beacon or a radio on board your boat to help get you help when you need it!
Weather is slowly turning around and with the upturn in weather comes the ability to burn your dead garden waste. Currently we are in an Open Fire Season excluding the islands. Please do be mindful when burning, no green vegetation make sure its brown. Otherwise lots of smoke is given off and if we are called for a smoke nuisance it will have to be put out. Also as the ground dries out be wary of embers in the wind. If you are not sure whether you can burn, go to the Auckland Council Website or ring them on 09 301 0101.
As most people are aware we have managed to secure $500,000 for our station build and building should be starting sometime September/October. With some luck we will be in the new premises by the time Santa comes! We have a sign up at the new site promoting how much more we have to go (only $200,000). This is mainly for the interior, such as office desks, chairs, tables, lockers etc. Any donations are gratefully accepted! You can donate at our Give a little page. Search Puhoi Fire.
Chris Farac
Senior Firefighter
Puhoi Rural Fire
Energized by the real prospect of getting the Fire Station Project completed now that Auckland Council have agreed to fund a large part of the cost, the fire brigade has started a givealittle page to raise funds https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/pvrff . Please give your support – these guys do a fantastic job for our community and may well be there just when you need them …
[via Mahu Matters]
Good news for Puhoi … Rodney’s Cr Penny Webster has just announced that Auckland Council will contribute $495,000 to the Puhoi Volunteer Rural Fire Force so it can complete the construction of its fire station. Cr Webster says she is delighted that the Puhoi Brigade will finally have the facility they deserve.
[note: image is artist’s impression- who could even consider not having a white+scoria fire station in Puhoi 😉 – Ed]
Community Fire Station workshop 90 Mins
Outcomes:
| 3.00 | Welcome from Russel hand over to Cissy | |
| Continuum of (still to be thought of) intros of who is in the room | ||
Quick overview from Russell – mention
|
||
| 3.15 | World café topics
|
A series of tables that everyone visits in small groups
Paper and pens needed |
| 3.40 | In small groups – consolidate and create a mini plan | |
| 3.50 | Present back to group – together these make one big plan | |
| 4.05 | Who is keen to be part of a fundraising group? Who will convene? | |
| Final round – |
Puhoi Fire Brigade report for June.
5 call outs this month;
-Tree down due to stormy weather – brigade cleared fallen tree to allow access along Krippner Road until the contractors could get there.
– Smoke showing opposite Wenderholm turnoff- turned out to be a major controlled burn off from a earth moving contractor- went for over a week…..
-3 motor vehicle accidents- two on Ahuroa Road- both were trucks that lost traction and ended up blocking the road- these trucks were taking the shortcut through Puhoi after State one was closed due to major accidents. Brigade helped control traffic to get the large tow trucks up to the site just past J Tolhopf Road.
And the other motor vehicle accident was when two motorbikes crashed into two separate cars at the same time on State Highway one by Schollums Access Road. A terrible scene with carnage spread over a vast area- two of Puhois Brigade were proactive in giving first response medical help until further ambulances and Westpac arrived on the scene to take over.
So sadly a couple of fatalities between Puhoi and Warkworth this month prompting a gentle reminder from the Brigade to locals to drive carefully, to the conditions and at a safe following distance.
Brigade crew attended several training courses last month and I went to Wellington to represent Auckland Rural Fire at a workshop dealing with volunteers and the new regime coming in July 2017.
Looking forward to the Forums workshops especially the one where you, the public, get to help us with our Fire Station project- see you all there on Sunday!
[via Fire Chief Russell]
YOUR HELP APPRECIATED- there is a community meeting on this Sunday, 10th July @ 3-00pm at the Sports Club to discuss funding opportunites for our new Fire Station project. Your input would be much appreciated to get this project finished. Possibly the only community asset built in Puhoi in your life time and you could help make it happen- everyone welcome to come along and have a say!
See you there, thanks.
Call outs- a quiet month but two incidents that could have been a lot worse-
Two motor vehicle accidents- (MVA) –
1- 2x truck accident on State highway 1- one a stock truck that overturned- all drivers were pretty much ok, the stock were pretty shaken up and a bit angry- main injury was a person jumping in a barbed wire fence to get out of the way of the rampaging steer!
2- A two car head on around a blind bend coming into Puhoi- the rental vehicle appeared to be on the wrong side of the road- moderate injuries to one driver- thank goodness for air bags!
New Recruits- welcome to our three newest recruits- Max Koch, Kim Vickers and Lauren Wheeler.Its great to get some young talent in the brigade ( to run up the hills with the hoses!!) and their training has now started in earnest- two days of First Aid training this weekend- then 4 days of basic training later this month at Mt Wellington.
Some of you might have seen the news regarding the amalgamation of all different Fire Services ( NZ Fire, Rural Fire, etc) into one organisation- Fire and Emergency NZ. This will also affect the Puhoi Fire Brigade- in a positive way and we are looking forward to the change- albeit we need to be in our new station by then- June 2017. Watch this space as we ramp up our fundraising efforts to get the station finished ASAP.
As you would expect its now an open season for fires- that said there is still plenty of restrictions on what you can and cannot burn- and as the moisture sets in please be conscious of the smoke nuisance factor as well- it would pay to check out the Councils website for more information in regards to this.
And the best thing we did over the month of April was participate in the ANZAC Day Parade- very humbling to be able to show our respect to those that sacrificed so much.
Keep safe out there,
Puhoi Fire Brigade.
MVC – 2
Tree Down – 1
Power Lines Down – 1
The weather has remained quite nice for the majority of summer, and even now as we head into the cooler mornings, by afternoon everyone is back in singlets!
As of the 1st April at 0800 the Auckland Rural Mainland became Open Fire Season. However, please continue with some vigilance as the wind and current heat still dries out the grass, resulting in a quicker and hotter burn than thought. The basic rules of not burning plastics, rubber, green vegetation or at night still apply.
The storm on the night of the 25th was an intense one and resulted in a few calls. Remember, if you come across any felled lines do not go near them, in places it is hard to tell the difference between power and phone lines. Then once they are deemed safe by the power company they can be moved by the appropriate person.
In the next few weeks our four new recruits start their training. First up is their Medical Co-Responder course where they learn advanced first aid and how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator.
Chris Farac
Qualified Firefighter
Puhoi Fire Brigade (our thanks to Chris for this monthly service, ed.)
