Cromwell Fire Brigade Chief Station Officer Neil Gillespie said the six deaths since February 12 were the worst he could recall in 32 years of volunteering with the brigade.
"It’s pretty horrific really ... the worst I can remember."
All but one of the deaths occurred within 1km of the fire station.
"It makes it pretty tough."
When the 35 volunteers who made up the Cromwell brigade received a page they might not know where they were heading to, he said.
It might say "crash rescue", it might say "car vs motorbike".
After the recent horror run, questions were running through volunteers’ minds, CFO Gillespie said.
"What am I going to now? Do I want to go?"
It was important to understand where people were at and how the deaths were impacting on their families and the wider community, he said.
At a callout, training kicked in and firefighters knew what had to be done. However, afterwards they faced the challenge of dealing with the emotional fallout.
Manning a fire engine in a small community meant there was always a chance any call could be to assist someone you knew, he said.
"The worst is when you have had visitors and they leave and then the siren goes off."
As well as vehicle crashes, fire crews were also called to attend cardiac arrests along with Hato Hone St John.
"It’s a big ask."
The team were rostered on three crews for nights and weekends. During the day those who were available turned out, CFO Gillespie said.
Unrostered crews were not required to answer the call but many did, he said.
Recently, crews had been told not to be surprised if they were taken off their usual roster "if someone has been to too many [fatalities] or seen enough".
The first people on the scene of a crash were rarely emergency services, but people going about their business. The effect on them of coming across a crash needed to be acknowledged too, CFO Gillespie said.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand had gone to great lengths to ensure there were resources available for volunteers affected by traumatic incidents and now there was a greater acceptance of using them.
The days of coming back to the station, having a few beers and then going home were gone, he said.
Peer support was available from fellow firefighters who had lived experience and psychological assistance was also there if needed. Communication was key, as was looking out for each other, he said.
"There are plenty of tools in the toolbox."
Community support for the emergency services was strong.
One Cromwell resident had used social media to launch a chain of offers of help.
Jayne McInnes was called by a friend who had witnessed a fatal crash in McNulty Rd on Sunday.
"She was travelling to Queenstown and had two young children in the car. It’s traumatic."
Ms McInnes collected the children so they did not have to see any more. That inspired her, as a qualified early childhood teacher, to offer childcare so emergency service volunteers could take some time out to recoup and relax.
What she did not expect was the flood of offers that followed hers.
"The feedback was really awesome. Everyone was thinking [of how to give back], but I’ve done something about it."
The deaths had a ripple effect in the community. As well as knowing volunteers, in some way she knew four of the six families who had lost someone in the crashes and her husband travelled the Cromwell-Alexandra Gorge road daily. Their son had become anxious about his father driving daily and she had become a very nervous driver, she said.
Offering childcare for a date night was a small thing, but it was a way to give something back to the volunteers, Ms McInnes said.
Other people had offered to cook meals, do gardening or home maintenance and deliver food to the fire station.
CFO Gillespie said the volunteers were "absolutely humbled" by the offers.
