The New Zealand Fire Service is an urban national organisation, with brigades in all but the smallest urban centres. It is funded by levies on property insurance premiums.

The local Councils operate volunteer Rural Fire Forces in some of the small settlements. The funding comes partly from rates and partly from the National Rural Fire Authority (part of the New Zealand Fire Service).
Waimakariri District Council has Rural Fire Forces at Waikuku Beach, Pines Beach,Lees Valley,  Woodend .
They are equipped and trained primarily to deal with vegetation fires, but also attend certain other emergencies when called.

The Principal Rural Fire Officer Tim Sheppard, is the contact person for advice on rural fires, fire restrictions or to obtain a fire permit. He is employed by the Waimakariri District Council who operate rural fire for the Waimakariri Area

The Waimakariri District Council also run our Civil Defence service, with Les Pester as the Civil Defence Officer.  Waimakariri Council Civil Defence

KNOW YOUR STREET NUMBER
The Waikakariri District has a Rural Address Property Identification System, more commonly known as the RAPID numbering system. There have been a number of occasions when callers to the 111 Emergency number have not been able to answer the query "What is your RAPID number?"
All rural residents have now been assigned a number and this should be displayed by your telephone for use in the event of emergency services being required. Informing the emergency services of both your road name and RAPID number will greatly enhance the chances of help arriving faster when seconds really count.

Waikuku Beach Volunteer Rural Fire Force

 

Callsigns          Waikuku 1860   1811  1825

Vehicles :         Hino 4x4 Water Tanker 

                        Bedford Water Tanker

                        Toyota Hilux Smoke Chaser 

 

Pines Beach Volunteer Rural Fire Force

 

Callsigns :        Pines 1911   1971

 

Woodend Volunteer Rural Fire

 

Callsigns :        Woodend 7710   7711

Vehicles :        J20 4x4 Jeep Rural unit ( 1000m 41mm hose)

                       Ford Water Tanker 8500 litres plus foam proportioner

RURAL FIRE SAFETY

Can a Fire Appliance get up your driveway ???

Rural residents face a higher risk of losing more property from fire than their urban counterparts because fires are not noticed as quickly in sparsely populated areas.

Response in rural areas can often take a longer time. Most rural areas in New Zealand are serviced by volunteer brigades. Although this is an excellent service, the time taken to respond to a fire emergency can be longer. Large areas served, imperfect road conditions especially during winter months, and lack of adequate water supply can delay quick intervention.

Many rural dwellers' livelihoods, eg farming, would be seriously at threat if key buildings such as the milking shed, shearing shed or the family home were destroyed by fire.

There are special things rural dwellers need to remember in order to make their properties safer.

These include:

·         Signposting your property. Rural property numbers are invaluable for a quick response by emergency vehicles.

·         Do emergency vehicles have easy access?

·         Is there an adequate water supply for use by emergency services?

·         Can portable pumps be positioned within 7 metres of open water supplies?

·         Is your firewood stacked away from the house?