Te Puke chief fire officer Glenn Williams. Photo / File
Te Puke chief fire officer Glenn Williams. Photo / File
With a high number of callouts and operational changes due to Covid-19, the start of 2020 has been busy for Te Puke firefighters.
Te Puke chief fire officer Glenn Williams says the brigade received 90 callouts in the first three months of this year, an average of just over one call a day.
He says the total is higher than compared with the same time last year - and 2019 had been the brigade's busiest year.
However, callouts have recently quietened off compared with earlier in the year, he says.
Glenn says the region's prohibited fire season meant the brigade received a lot of calls when people had seen smoke.
He asks that, during lockdown, people avoid unnecessary fires, such as burning rubbish, as they risk exposing firefighters to the Covid-19 virus.
"We want to try and avoid that. If we have a crew in contact with a patient or infected person, it puts that crew out of being able to respond to callouts we really need to go to."
Glenn says Covid-19 precautions have meant the brigade has had to change its routines. For example, unless it was a big job, only one fire truck might go out with a smaller crew.
He says firefighters have to wear extra personal protection gear when responding to cardiac arrests.
He reminds residents to check the batteries of their smoke alarms and to, of course, stay safe and stay at home as much as possible.
Maketu chief fire officer Shane Gourlay. Photo / File
Maketu chief fire officer Shane Gourlay says that brigade has received 70 callouts already this year - about 15 calls ahead of the same time last year. He says most have been for car crashes and industrial site alarms.
Due to Covid-19 precautions, he says, the number of crew going out in the brigade's fire truck and vehicles has been minimised.
Pukehina Beach chief fire officer Errol Watts. Photo / File
However, Pukehina Beach chief fire officer Errol Watts says their brigade has had about 25 callouts so far this year, which is about 30 per cent down on normal.
He says the brigade has received fewer medical calls, and believes that, when it is really dry, people tend to be more careful and respect the fire bans.
Errol says he has also split his crew into two, so they operate separately, so that, if one member gets sick, the other crew can still cover.
"Let's just stay home and beat this thing. The less callouts we have to attend, the safer our crew and their families will be.
"I'm confident we can beat this thing if everyone works together."
Fire and Emergency NZ says the lockdown makes it more important than ever for people to be fire-safe.
"We're heading into winter, and with households self-isolating together, there'll be more cooking at home, and more use of open fires, heaters, and dryers - all things which can increase fire risk," the firefighting organisation says.
If you call 111, "we will ask you whether anyone at the address is self-isolating or has a confirmed case of Covid-19".
"Where this is the case, we already have necessary measures in place to ensure everyone's safety including protective clothing, gloves, masks, safety glasses and mask."
People can find information at fireandemergency.nz/at-home/.
•Check your smoke alarms. They will save your life.
•Don't assume smoke alarms are working, press the button to check.
•Make a household escape plan and practice it. A house fire can kill in less than five minutes. If you are in an apartment make sure your entry and exit points are clear.
•Don't overload plugs. One appliance to each wall plug or multi-board socket. We regularly attend fires caused by overloaded electrical outlets. So, if you're working from home, please check your workspace set up to ensure plugs aren't overloaded.
•Keep everything and everyone at least a metre away from the heater.
•Never leave electric blankets on while you sleep.
•Dispose of fireplace ashes in a steel bucket with water. Ashes can stay hot enough to ignite for five days.
•If you must light candles, use them safely and never leave them unattended.
•Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
•Keep looking while you're cooking. Turn off if you leave the kitchen. Keep your cooking surfaces free from grease and please – never, ever leave pans unattended on the stove top.
•Don't drink and fry.
•Please don't light outdoor fires – for example rubbish fires- during the lockdown.
