New Zealand Fire Service Reflects Both British and American Influence
Green Mt., Ala., Vol. Fire Dept.
I do not travel anywhere without trying to stop in at the local fire department, not even, or especially in an overseas area.
In New Zealand, 3rd Officer Bailie was my host and assigned Station Officer S. O. Mills and a car to me. Mills showed me both the Auckland Fire Brigade and several suburban volunteer brigades.
Until recently, the New Zealand fire service paralleled our own in historical development. The first brigades, even in large cities, were volunteer and independent. Later, cities such as Auckland went to paid brigades, but the rural, suburban and smaller towns remain volunteer.
In 1949, the federal government of New Zealand passed an act providing standardization of organization, administration and training. This was later expanded and in 1976, the New Zealand Fire Service Commission received full authority over all fire services in the country.
Therefore, the New Zealand fire service presents a distinctly uniform front, whichever brigade is visited. All were friendly and anxious to communicate with a brother in the fire service.
Perhaps the two greatest differences an American fire fighter would notice, apart from driving on the left, are underground hydrants and couplings that snap together. Each pumper carries a standpipe that is connected to an underground hydrant, which is made accessible by opening a cover that is flush with the ground. The standpipe (or as I called it, “the portable fireplug”) has a T bar that is used to turn on the water. The standpipes are about 2½ inches in diameter, which limits the water supply from a hydrant.
New Zealand uses British-type, quick-connect hose couplings, which snap together. The hose is carried in rolls and coupled on the fireground. The booster reels are like ours.
Supply lines are about 2½ inches and attack lines are about 1½ or 1 3/4-inch, but both use the same coupling, which looks rather large on the smaller line. The large protrusions which are pulled to uncouple the hose looked clumsy to me. They must catch on everything as a line is advanced. These ears are much larger than our old pin lugs were. I believe a twisting collar could be devised to eliminate this drawback.
On the other hand, the siren wail would sound familiar to the American ear. The English hi-lo warning is not used.
Once at the fire and in action, the New Zealander and the American are indistinguishable. Both use the same style helmets and turnout gear. The English dress is different.
Many New Zealand trucks have rear-mount pumps and they are British Dennis, Bedfords, etc. However, their newest engines, American Darleys have midship pumps.
There is a central training facility at Wellington that offers fire college level courses and other training. Many stations have training towers.
Each fire fighter is trained in all aspects of fire suppression and, unlike his American counterpart, does not specialize in ladder or engine work at any time in his career.
The use of self-contained breathing apparatus is stressed, and ventilation is generally delayed until suppression is well under way.
The New Zealand Fire Service (along with all of New Zealand) has gone metric. Pressure is measured in pascals and hose in millimeters. The vehicles are driven in kilometers per hour.
Perhaps partially because of the nationalized fire service, there are many more levels of rank than the American is familiar with. New Zealand has, in increasing orders, auxiliary fireman, probationary fireman, fireman 2nd class, fireman 1st class, senior fireman, subofficer, station officer, senior station officer (district officer—volunteers), divisional officer, senior divisional officer (fourth officer—volunteers), third officer, deputy chief fire officer, chief fire officer, fire force commander and finally, fire commissioner.
A station officer is roughly equivalent to our captain—perhaps a shade higher. The higher ranks are related to political and geographic divisions in New Zealand and have no American counterparts.
I found New Zealand fire fighters fully as dedicated as fire fighters here or anywhere. It seems there is a common bond among those striving to serve their fellow men.
