Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Moana’s volunteer firefighters and supporters will be in celebration mode when their upgraded fire station is officially opened tomorrow (29 August).
The upgrades provide the brigade with improved facilities in a seismically sound building that also accommodates both their fire truck and tanker for the first time.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand has invested approximately $1.8m in the upgrade and associated work.
The station required seismic strengthening and it was too small to house both fire truck and tanker, so the tanker was in a temporary tent- type covered area beside the station.
Assistant District Commander Atila de Oliveira says it is important for the brigade to have a resilient and fit-for-purpose facility to operate from.
“This is a beautiful part of the country that also reckons with multiple natural hazards because of our geography and climate,” Atila de Oliveira says.
“The Moana brigade is better equipped to serve the Lake Brunner community as a result of the station upgrade.”
Key components of the upgrade include:
- Rebuilt appliance bays that will house both the fire truck and tanker
- Improved facilities including upgraded personal protection equipment (PPE) storage, and ablutions
- Electrical, data and fire alarm upgrades
- Structural strengthening to improve resilience
- Fallback emergency generator
The 20 members of the brigade respond to an average of 54 incidents a year, including fires, road traffic incidents, medical emergencies and weather events. They are a Medical Co-Response brigade, supporting Hato Hone St John.
The station was built shortly after the brigade was established in 1974, with a small extension added in 2007.
The Moana township has a permanent population of around 100 residents, but swells to an estimated 3000 people during the summer.