Sefton Volunteer Rural Fire Force -
At the July 2002 meeting of the CPFBA Executive, an application to join the Canterbury Provincial Fire Brigades Association was tabled. The Executive were unanimous in their acceptance of the application and were delighted that a Rural Fire Force was now part of our Association.
Currently our membership stands at 18, but (like all fire fighting units) we are looking to increase that number to spread the workload.
I was appointed Controller as of 1st June 2004.
We held our annual Honours Night on 9th October, where we presented UFBA and FRANZ honours for service ranging from 3 years to 22 years.
We have recently taken delivery of new fire fighting helmets and two piece level one PPE. These items were purchased with funds obtained through - Endeavour Charitable Trust, Canterbury Foundation, Caversham Foundation, Community Grants Foundation, and The Southern Trust.
The Lion Foundation provided funds for the whole Fire Force to attend a Workplace First Aid Course in September.
The Fire Force is based at the Carter Holt Harvey mill at Sefton and has three Isuzu 4WD rural appliances to provide fire protection for the Ashley Rural Fire District, which includes Eyrewell, Oxford, Mt Thomas, Ashley/Okuku, Omihi, Balmoral and Hanmer forests. Two of the appliances (SEFT3975 & SEFT3976) are on the NZFS LMR and we respond to approximately 20 fire calls each year.
Jeff Walton G.I.Fire E, FNZFBI
Controller
Sefton Volunteer Rural Fire Force
Our task now is to attract other VRFF's to the Association and ensure that their membership is both rewarding and mutually valuable for all members.
