Firefighters' training day great success

DAWN: Early morning set up with Gary Baker from Carterton District Council.PHOTO/ S SIEMONEK

Rural firefighters who descended on Henley Lake this month for a training exercise are hailing the day as a "great success".

Over 50 firefighters from the Wairarapa Rural Fire District (WRFD) Volunteer Rural Fire Forces and Juken NZ forestry took part in helicopter training on Saturday, May 10.

The event enabled crews to put into practise the lessons learned from theory nights that had been held throughout the district over the past few months.

The practical exercises included safety around the aircraft, how to get on and off when the helicopter is stationary and when hovering, how to fill monsoon buckets and the communication signals needed to liaise with the pilot. Crews were also tested in their ability to set up and operate fire pumps using several scenarios and combinations.

Phill Wishnowsky, WRFD Principal Rural Fire Officer, said "the training was very valuable for the rural crews and the communities they live in around the district to ensure that the Fire Forces are ready to respond when required".

The day was a great success with over 54 rural firefighters participating in the event, he said.

At the end of the exercise 42 firefighters had achieved at least one unit standard towards their qualification, with in excess of 142 unit standards completed on the day.

The rural firefighters came from all parts of Wairarapa, including the communities of Castlepoint, Riversdale, Tinui, Wainuioru, Mauriceville, Tora, Lake Ferry and Ngawi where WRFD has Volunteer Rural Fire Forces. WRFD staff were assisted on the day by personnel from Wairoa RFA, Wellington RFA and both the Masterton and Carterton district councils.