We have one pump rescue tender and one County tanker built up from a cab and chassis by Brigade members. We have 29 Fire Service members one CFO, one DCFO, three SO's eleven S/FF's and thirteen F/F. We also have two rural fire fighters along with 30 residents trained to assist at longer rural fires.
The Brigade responds to over 400 calls a year. We are in the first turnout to the now large Rolleson industrial area, four prisons, one psychiatric hospital and the Lincoln University which contains a number of multi-storeyed buildings, including high rise accommodation.
Over the summer the hot dry nor'west winds cause the vegetation to dry off and we get a lot of grass and vegetation fires. The State Highway also creates a large number of motor vehicle accidents in which our medical skills are put to good use. Because of the large number of MVA's we attend, the members have raised money and purchased Hurst Hydraulic Rescue Equipment, Defibrillator, Paramedic Kit, Portable Oxygen, Suction Unit, Cervical Collars and a large First Aid Kit. All brigade members have recently been put through a two day Ambulance Service Emergency Responders course. Because it takes at least 15 to 20 minutes for an Ambulance to respond from Christchurch to Rolleston, the pump responds to all ambulance calls in our area so members are putting their medical skills to good use with a few people owing their lives directly to the skills of the members. The Brigade has two Ambulance Advanced Paramedics, and two Christchurch Ambulance full time staff, while every other brigade member is trained to a similar level, with ongoing training and courses; all in their own time.
We work in with our neighbouring brigades extremely often;
Lincoln, Burnham Military Camp, Sockburn (permanent), West Melton, Dunsandel and
Kirwee.
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FIREFIGHTERS