FIRE FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1941, Page 6

FIRE FIGHTING

SERVICES FOR EMERGENCY ORGANISATION IN MASTERTON. E.P.S. AND E.F.S. UNITS. Reference to the establishment anti training of emergency fire fighting services in Masterton was made 'today by Mr T. B. Clark, superintendent of the Masterton Fire Brigade. Mr Clark said he had been in touch with the authorities in Wellington and he had been requested to continue with his efforts to form a unit of the Emergency Fire Service in Masterton. Referring to both the Emergency Fire Service and the E.P.S. volunteer fire fighting units, ,Mr Clark said: "There is a job for every man in these emergency services and we would like to receive as many applicants as possible. There are sufficient men in Masterton to bring these corps to full strength if only the men would come forward.”

| , I have been asked to persevere with the formation of an Emergency Fire Service unit in Masterton,” said Mr Clark. "So far only four men have come up to the required medical standard set by the authorities out of twelve applicants so far for this class of work. Men suitable for the Emergenc.v Fire Service are those not eligible for overseas military’ service, and | should be from 41 to 45 years of age. i understand that this corps cannot com- | mence training until (here are at least I ten men enrolled as fit for service, i Men in the Emergency Fire Service are I paid for all drills and parades they at- | tend, at the same rate ns that paid to I territorials. They are required by the | authorities to complete 56 hours train- | ing, extended over about three .months: ; as follow: One hour each night for four nights per week and one daylight parade of two hours on Saturday afternoon. Instruction is given on these lines only until the 56 hours' training has been completed, after which traim ing is reduced to one hour per week and a daylight parade every second month. It may be possible,"’ said Mr Clark, "after training lias commenced, to amend the night drills every week to two. each of two hours. The rate of pay is 7s per day, and six hours training will constitute a day's wage. Candidates will be required to pass a medical examination by the local medical board and uniforms are supplied free to all men accepted for service. This corps is controlled by the Government and is trained by 'local fire brigades, which make its appliances available for that purpose. Men lor this corps enrol at the lire station." "On the civilian side, another class of lire fighters known as the E.P.S. unit, is receiving instruction al present,” said Mr Clark. "We do not wish, people to become confused between these two organisations. It must be understood that the E.P.S. is purely a voluntary corps, and (he men enrolled in it are covered in the ease of accident by (he Emergency Precautions Regulations. The men are trained by tlie use of the brigade's appliances bin not to the same extern as (hose in the Emergency Fire Service. Candidates for the E.P.S. lire lighting unit, which parades at the garage of Fagan Motors Lid.. Bannister Street, should apply to Mr G. T. O'Hara Smith, secretary of the E.P.S. Committee. Instruction is given to men enrolled in this unit on the first and third Tuesdays in every month. It is desired," said Mr Clark, "to enrol further men in this unit for the I,:. :.-:d.)wne area, which al present is without any lire fighting squad." ! Mr Clark added that there were also! vacancies for single men on lite per-1 manent auxiliary ■■tali' of tlie Master- i ton Brigade. These men rc'.xived pay-1 men! for services mid uniforms. Ap-> ( plication for tins service srmuld be, made to (lie Superintendent.