David Unwin / Things
The Levin Fire Station is now home to a full-time crew during weekdays, who provide much-needed support to busy volunteers.
Volunteers at one of New Zealand’s busiest fire stations can cool off with the formation of a new full-time crew.
The Levin Fire Station is staffed entirely by volunteers who attend approximately 450 calls per year.
The station is known for its signboard that shows how many crashes, fires and other calls they have attended throughout the year.
It is also famous for its siren, which regularly interrupts business in the nearby courthouse as it rings.
READ MORE:
* 11 Auckland fire stations closed or understaffed on Saturday
* Recruiters’ interest hoped to lighten the burden of volunteers for Horowhenua fire departments
* Electric fire destroys house, charred ash remains
The volunteers will be given a reprieve, with Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) being given a full-time career crew to work at the station Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 5.30pm.
Bruce Stubbs, FENZ Te poko’s regional manager, said the volunteers have done a fantastic job, but it can be challenging to gather crews to run two fire trucks during the day while people are at work.
Several solutions have been implemented since 2015, including career teams helping where needed, but a more permanent solution was needed, he said.
The proposal for the new crew was made in collaboration with the New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union and the United Fire Brigades Association.
“It’s great that we were able to make it happen together,” Stubbs said.
FENZ Manawatū-Whanganui district manager Nigel Dravitzki said the move was positive for both volunteers and the wider Levin community.
“It means we can continue to provide a consistently high level of service to the community while relieving our volunteers a bit.”