Heat's on fire boys to cook up a storm

Evan Broughton and Colin Rolfe from Rotorua Fire Brigade prepare to trade in their fire fighting duties for cooking duties. Photo /Ben Fraser

They might be more used to putting out fires from dinner parties than hosting them but Rotorua firefighters will be the ones feeling the heat in the kitchen next week.

Alongside some of the fine dining establishments in town, the fire station will become a restaurant for the night to host a table of eight as part of the Supper Club fundraiser for Ronald McDonald Family Retreats. The annual event sees groups of eight head off to various restaurants and lodges for a meal. And this year, one of those places will be the fire station.

Senior Station Officer Colin Rolfe said they might not be chefs, but they planned to whip up a tasty three-course meal - and provide an experience like no other for their guests.

Mr Rolfe said he wasn't sure how the idea came about for the fire service to take part, but they decided it was a good idea.

His watch, Brown Watch, would be cooking the meal and hosting the group because they were on day shift - which would give them a chance to do the preparations. Because they are off duty during the evening, there is no chance of them being called out.

"We've never done anything like this but there are a few of us who can do a bit of cooking so we don't have a problem there."

Mr Rolfe didn't want to give away the menu, but said various crew members were concentrating on their specialties.

He said while they were providing a nice meal, the group that got their table should be prepared for more of an "experience".

"We're planning to show them around the station, have a couple of displays. We're looking at it more of an experience for someone to be dining in a fire station."

True to that, Mr Rolfe said the diners could expect to eat "in the appliance bay" surrounded by the fire engines.