The Wanganui District Council is a Rural Fire Authority and is responsible for ensuring the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 is being complied with in the Wanganui District.
The Council has appointed a Principal Rural Fire Officer who is responsible for ensuring that the necessary management functions are in place. This includes actions to reduce the risk and severity of fire, and monitoring the fire danger on a daily basis during the fire season. Other key tasks include ensuring preparedness by having available a means of fire suppression to efficiently and effectively manage rural fires.
We have our own rural fire forces in the Wanganui District. Agreements are also in place to use the New Zealand Fire Service and other fire suppression providers if required, and to have an aerial fire fighting capacity through the use of helicopters and monsoon buckets and fixed wing aircraft.
The Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 requires Rural Fire Authorities to have an operational fire plan. The Wanganui District Rural Fire Authority is responsible for reviewing and updating the Rural Fire Plan Part One (Operational) every year. The Rural Fire Plan Part Two is a statement of fire control policy, chain of command and procedures by a Rural Fire Authority.
The Wanganui District Council crew, based at Wanganui Fire Station, trains every Monday at 6pm during the fire season and once a month during the winter.
The crew members are on 24/7 callout via numeric pager. In the event of large or prolonged fires that cannot be dealt with by the Fire Service within one hour, these crews can be deployed.
If you would like to join or need more information, please contact the Fire Service on 348 0103 or the Council on 349 0001.
