Ranfurly Volunteer Fire Brigade’s station opened its doors to the public at the weekend as part of its 75th jubilee celebrations.
About 70 people turned out on Saturday to see firefighters in action, explore the station and see the appliances.
The brigade also celebrated half a century of service for senior firefighter Ewan Mason.
Ranfurly Chief Fire Officer James Hazlett said the number of people present was fantastic.
CFO Hazlett, who has volunteered for 38 years, said the brigade had gone through many changes.
In the past, it was enough to "put the wet stuff on the hot stuff", he said.
Fire brigades began responding to medical incident 30 years ago.
"That was a big thing for a lot of males. They didn’t really think they were ever going to deal with the blood."
The biggest change had been in the brigade’s use of technology, he said.
Incident alerts sent to cellphones meant volunteers could travel directly to an incident, rather than reporting first to the fire station.
"Where we have to be travelling say, 15 to 20 minutes for someone who is having a heart attack, some of our members could be there in three to four [minutes], to give aid."
CFO Hazlett said the brigade needed to continue adapting to a changing community.
"The core principles are the same ... we’ll train to accordance."
With 52 volunteers, it was the second-biggest volunteer brigade in New Zealand, he said.
"Our communities can’t exist without volunteers."
The anniversary celebrations coincided with 50 years of service for one volunteer firefighter.
"It’s a great honour," Mr Mason said.
He had held many roles in his time, including 10 years as chief fire officer.
He was moved to join the brigade after witnessing a fire in his early teens.
"It was [a] massive house fire that actually left me with some fears towards fire."
He decided the best way to overcome the fear was to join the fire brigade.
He tried to join when he was 16 but "the chief of the day decided I was not suitable, not fit for purpose and too young".
Mr Mason had more luck the next year and joined the brigade in 1973 at the age of 17.
Joining the brigade "absolutely" fixed his fear of fire, he said.
"[It] cured it at the first fire call."
Fifty years of service to his community had "flown by", Mr Mason said.
In 2020, he was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.
It was hard to pick out just one memorable incident, he said.
"There’s been some incredibly tragic incidents, which in a most bizarre way leave you with quite a sense of fulfillment in that you’ve helped other people."
His volunteer work had been a journey of personal growth and service to his community, one he enjoyed immensely.
"Quite frequently, when we are called to attend an incident, we are attending something that are those people’s worst nightmare," he said.
"They have just suffered trauma or loss ... and yet we get there, and they’re happy to see us."
ruby.shaw@odt.co.nz , Cadet reporter
