Alan Pearce champions responsible fire management and protecting the Western Bay from devastation.
Alan is the Moana zone representative for Pumicelands, the rural fire authority responsible for issuing fire permits and fighting rural fires across the Western Bay of Plenty and some parts of the Kaimai Range.
Originally from Waihi, Alan has a Civil Defence and Emergency Management and rural fire background going back 17 years, and has worked throughout New Zealand and overseas for the likes of Western Bay Moana Rural Fire, Tauranga City, Department of Internal Affairs as well as the Department of Conservation.
"The best thing about working with Pumicelands is working within a larger, coordinated rural fire organisation. Raising awareness of the risks all rural landowners and occupiers face from the danger of wildfire is an important part of the job.
"By working with our region, our mission is to protect lives, rural homes, orchards, farms, forests and conservation lands from the damaging effects of vegetation wildfires.