Firewood chopped for funds for fire brigade

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 684, 29 April 1997, Page 7

Firewood chopped for funds for fire brigade

Fire fighters have been in the fire wood business in recent months, raising money to pay for new rescue equipment for the Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade. So far they have raised about two thirds of the $6000 needed to buy a new portable Holmatro hydraulic pump for their rescue cutting equipment. The pump, a stronger, more powerful and faster machine, will bring their present cutting tools to life. It will mean they can operate two rescue tools at once, and will also mean they have a stand-by pump motor should one break down. The brigade's rescue equipment was bought in 1985, with much of the money raised in a special auction. They plan to upgrade all the equipment in the near future. "This type of gear has to be spot on, we can't have breakdowns," said senior fireman Ben Goddard. Brigade members have cut, split, loaded and delivered almost 50 cord of wood to raise the money, using felled trees on Frank Taylor's farm on Lakes Road. "The brigade is mindful of the community's generosity so we like to give something back for our

money," said Mr Goddard, although he said they would accept donations as well. With the success of the summer' s firewood campaign, they are considering repeating it next summer, to raise the funds needed to buy new cutting tools. Also new for the brigade and already proving their worth are three new, tiny

powerful landing strobe lights used to guide the Trans Rail Rescue Helicopter in to land. The fire service in Palmerston North provided the lights, which were used earlier this month when the helicopter was used to transport a man to hospital with wounds to his arms. An aerosol can left on a Kent fire exploded.