Brigade sees enormous changes in 88 years

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 626, 5 March 1996, Page 9

Brigade sees enormous changes in 88 years

By

Karen A

Grimwade

With Johnny Nation retiring after 49 years service to the Ohakune Fire Brigade it is a good time to reflect on the history of the brigade. In its 88 years many things have changed enormously, others very little. In 1908, the year the rail heads of the North Island Main Trunk Line met, fires were common in the rural areas around Ohakune. Land was regularly burnedoff to clear land for farming. On occasions these burn-offs got out of control and spread, fanned by strong winds, devastating the surrounding farmlands and settlements. Fire was a real threat to the rural settlers who could only bury their belongings and head for the nearest stream for shelter. The Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed in 1908 at Mr Fraser's barber shop. Jack Spinks was appointed the first Captain (now called the Fire Chief). An alarm tower was built and installed on Burns Street (then the main street) and 24 buckets purchased to hang on it. These buckets were the only means of getting water to a fire at that time. The 'Killer', a Shand & Mason manual pump, was purchased in 1911 for the

grand sum of £90. It was able to deliver 12 litres of water per second through two 16-mm branches (nozzles). Eight people operated this pump - reputedly extremely hard work. Compare this to 19 litres per second through four 25 mm branches at 750 kpa as average pump output for either of the two Ohakune Fire appliances today - requiring only one pump operator. The brigade went into a brief recess in the years after 191 1, as it seems that it was inadequately funded and interest died off. The Shand & Mason was reportedly left neglected under a birch tree. This lack of interest was to prove unfortunate as Ohakune' s Big Fire of 1917 was to prove. The fire is believed to have started in a building being used as a skating rink in the main business area on Bums Street (then known as Pipiriki Road), The fire was discovered around midnight and the 'Killer' was promptly wheeled down to the river, breaking the baker's toe in the process. The 'Killer' did not work, efforts for over an hour produced no water from the pump. The fire swept north towards Clyde Street despite efforts to impede its progress. The business area in Pipiriki Road was razed

to the ground, only brick chimney stacks were left standing. The Fire Inspector to the Borough blamed the failure of the pump on the Council, saying that had the pump worked the fire could have been contained in its early stages. The Council had cancelled the appointment of Captain Spinks and consequently there had been no organisation in existence to ensure proper maintenance of the pump. The Big Fire and the tragic Raetihi Fire of 1918 saw a renewed interest in fire fighting and the Ohakune Fire Brigade was revived in 1919. A Fire Board was formed and soon after, a fire station was built on Goldfinch Street. The bell, cast in 1913, was finally hung on the tower at the fire station in October 1919. Although superseded by the siren and personal beepers, the bell is a treasured bit of history, still kept at the* Ohakune Fire Station. Other notable pumps owned by the Ohakune Fire Brigade were the 1903 "Merry weather Fire King" steam engine, the first selfpropelled fire engine in Australasia - although it must be noted that Ohakune didn'tgetituntilthe 1920's. The Merry weather took up to seven minutes to build

up enough steam to be dri ven sometimes requiring stops to build up pressure again along the way - a bit nerve wracking when in a hurry. Although a great fire pump, it was described as 'useless' with the new 12-

metre ladder being 'unsuitable to a dangerous degree for fire brigade work at , fires' , the trailer pump having no brake and the hose and ladder tender still lacking a siren. The "Dennis" trailer

pump was acquired in 1924 and was still inusein 1988. The Dennis 'has now been restored and renovated as 'original' and is fondly known as 'The Pig'. Until the modern appliances of today came into

use, the biggest problem the fire brigade faced was the supply of water to fight a fire. This is something taken for granted today with the town having hydrants in all streets and the appliances Turn to Page 14

Brigade sees enormous changes in 88 years

From Page 9 Jbeing able to carry water. The first fire appliance to carry water was the A2 Bedford acquired in 1956 which was able to carry 120 gallons. The Bedford was purchased for Ohakune as a direct result of an enquiry into the fatal Valentines Fire in Christchurch a few years earlier. Also acquired at a later date by the brigade was a 1 936 Ford V 8 still in operation until about 1960. Without water the brigade members could do very little. Sacks or buckets of water relayed from a nearby stream were their best equipment. Fire fighting was plain hard, dirty work. If a burning building was out of reach of a water supply, all they could do was watch it burn. In the early days water holes were formed in the streams for easy access. The stream through Christie Park had dam gates installed at the bridge near the Doctor's surgery and also on the stream running under the picture theatre at the Junction (now the Hot Lava) to allow water to be quickly dammed in the event of a fire.

The Brigade today Today the Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade is 28 firefighters strong. If the siren sounds and the beepers go off they drop every thing and head to the fire station — not always easy in the middle of a winter' s night when woken from a deep sleep. Women have been active members of the brigade over the last decade adding to the diverse range of skills fire brigades increasingly require. Being a fire brigade member is a way of life, not something to take on lightly but the returns can be enormous; the satisfaction gained from helping people, saving property and lives and the skills learnt doing so, can be very rewarding. The supply of water is still crucial to fighting a fire but made much easier by fire appliances capable of carrying more than 1000 litres of water (about seven minutes worth of fire-fighting with high-pressure hoses). Fire fighters now have access to hydrants which allow them to tap into the mains which usually means access to an unlimited

water supply with good pressure. When you next notice a rectangular yellow plate in the road or footpath, think twice, this is the vital water supply needed to save property and lives. The present Fire Station was rebuilt in 1 964 and houses two fire appliances, a rescue vehicle and the historic 'Pig' . The water tanker is not able to be kept under cOver but it is hoped that funds can be raised to extend the station to eventually house the tanker and its trailer. The station also has a small 'watch-room', some storage, a kitchen and social room. Outside a tower houses the siren and a hoist for drying fire hose. These days the fire brigade has the use of two fire appliances, trucks with built-in 2-stage pumps that carry over 1000 litres of water; the 'International' fire appliance which also carries a portable 'Rabbit' pump; the Ford — a four-wheel drive fire truck which also carries a portable 'Browns Brothers' pump. In addition to the two appliances provided by the

NZ Fire Service the brigade has raised funds over the years to purchase a water tanker and trailer. This provides a portable water supply to rural property fires where access to water may be difficult or even impossible. The other vehicle purchased by the Brigade is the Isuzu 4-wheel drive van. This vehicle carries the brigade' s rescue equipment, also purchased with funds raised; hydraulic shears and spreaders, a porta-power ram, generator and lighting equipment, medical gear, chocks, chainsaw etc. This gear is used to quickly and efficiently cut people free from wrecked vehicles at road accidents. Quick and careful extracfion is crucial to saving lives when minutes count. In some ways not much has changed. The Fire Brigade still relies on people willing to give their time and the community willing to provide support to be adequately funded and equipped to deal with today' s emergencies and rescue' s — just as it was 88 years ago.