Below are a few questions I have been e-mailed. If you would like to ask anything to do with our brigade, the New Zealand Fire Service, or anything to do with firefighting; please feel free to do so, simply CLICK HERE

Thanks, Nigel Lilley, WEBMASTER

Q. How fast are you allowed to go on the road? (Albie, North Shore, New Zealand)

A. We are allowed by New Zealand Fire Service standard operating procedures to travel

25 km/h over the posted speed limit - up to a maximum of 105 km/h. We are to approach a stop sign / red light at a maximum of 15 km/h and to travel through at a maximum of 25 km/h providing the way is clear. To enable us to do any of the above - we MUST have sirens and flashing lights operating. Obviously conditions prevail - i.e. if it is raining heavily - we will travel considerably slower - at the end of the day we are in a large vehicle (truck essentially) and the difference between getting to the incident safely and getting there 30 seconds earlier is NIL.

Q. What is the scariest fire you have been involved in? (Craig, Rotorua, New Zealand)

A. Actually Craig, myself personally, was in a training weekend organized by the Canterbury Provincial Fire Brigades Assn called Blue Skies (if you are a firefighter in the Tranz Alpine are and have not attended one of these weekends - I strongly suggest you do so).

We were involved in a ship fire excercise at the Port of Lytellton, and we were in a ship in complete darkness, buddied up and in Breathing Apparatus. There were pits and drops everywhere, and set up completely like a real fire (thanks to Lytellton Volunteer Fire Brigade and Christchurch CST's). Fires are generally not all that scary, as you know you have good friends backing you up, and the Officer in Charge will never put you in any danger.

Q. What rewards do you get out of being a volunteer fire fighter? (Glenn, Twizel, New Zealand)

A. It's a tough one. I have the time to spare, and the fact alone that I can help someone; whether it be save their life at a medical call, or cut a trapped person out of a car to get them to hospital within the "golden hour", or to simply rescue a poor lady's cat; gives me immense satisfaction.

Also, I meet a lot of people - not only from within our fire brigade, but from brigades considerable distances away - several whom I still keep in regular contact with.

It's a "job" you either love or hate - I am one of the addicted ones - I love it.

Q. What age can you join your local fire brigade? (Manny, Linkwater, New Zealand)

A. 16. This of course is dependable on your local brigade. Many have waiting lists, however a lot of brigades are screaming for numbers - particularly day time manning. Contact your local fire station for further details on recruitment.

Q. Do you get sick of getting woken up at 4 and 5 in the morning? (Jamie, Green Island, New Zealand)

A. Ummm - YES. However - it is part of the "job". Someone has to do it, and at the end of the day, the social and fun side of being a volunteer far outweighs any wake up call.

Q. Dear Nigel. My name is Bronnie and I'm a third lieutenant in the Avoca Urban Fire Brigade in Victoria, Australia. I was wondering if you have any females in your brigade and if so, how many? We have an urban and a rural fire service where I live, but we work in together when we have our call outs.

(Bronwyn Hutchison, Victoria, Australia - 26/03/2006)

A. Hi Bron. Great to hear from you. At present we have two females in our ranks, but have had up to five at one time!!! We have a very similar setup in terms of rural and urban integration as you, and likewise, ourselves (volunteers), the paid stuff, and the rural bunnies work very well and very closely together.