The next time the Far North is hit by a major fire, disaster or whale stranding, emergency workers won't have to huddle in the cabs of their utes or a creaking 1950s truck while they're organising a response.
That's because the district has just taken delivery of a new command and control unit, a truck fitted with the latest in IT and communications equipment.
Although owned by the Northern Rural Fire Authority, it will be available to any group that needs it. As well as providing a command centre for firefighting, it can be used at whale strandings, search and rescue operations or natural disasters. Its first use is likely to be as a St John base at the upcoming Waitangi Day celebrations.
Principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor said it was more than just a fire truck. "It sets us up for big campaign fires that take days, weeks or a month to put out."
The truck included radios for police, fire, Coastguard, Civil Defence, the Department of Conservation and forestry, as well as internet and a satellite phone. It will have its own generator, work stations for four people, a GIS mapping system, full copying and printing facilities, and live weather updates.
