Southern rural fire force shaping up

4 November 2015

Around 20 community-minded people have put their hands up to join the ranks of the Southern Lakes Volunteer Rural Fire Force.

Taupo District Council has been working with the Pumicelands Rural Fire Authority to create the new force, which will serve the southern and western parts of the district.

Rural fire zone manager Roger Nelson said four applications had been received in response to recent advertising and last week at a community meeting at Omori another 15-20 members of the community had expressed a formal interest in joining.

This is a fantastic response from those communities and makes it viable for us to work with the Pumicelands Rural Fire Authority in forming an enhanced and more sustainable volunteer rural fire force going forward, Mr Nelson said.

Training had already begun for a number of community members who volunteered after seeing advertisements for the new force, and the new recruits would be joining them in the next few weeks.

Mr Nelson said a commitment had made to ensure there was a rural fire presence at the southern end of the lake over the holiday period.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lisa Nairne Communications Manager 07 376 0762 027 839 8410

Vicki Waterhouse Communications Advisor 07 376 0718 027 484 2549

Taupo District Council

www.taupo.govt.nz