Fire gutted a garage in Waenga Drive, Cromwell last Thursday evening (August 25). 

Four minutes after the alarm was raised at 7.20pm, the first fire truck left the Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade station in Barry Avenue.

The volunteer firefighters on call that night were alerted via their pager and mobile messaging system and six minutes after the alarm was raised, both trucks and a support vehicle arrived at the scene.  

Sixteen volunteers attended the fire which took around two hours to totally extinguish.

Fortunately, the garage was a detached structure, and the occupants of the house were shaken, but unharmed.  

Firefighters managed to knock the fire down pretty quickly, and spent the next two hours overhauling the scene and ensuring it was completely cooled down and the owners’ house was not at risk.

PHOTO: Facebook

Fire out. PHOTO: The Central App

VIDEO: Facebook

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

“We train for events we wish didn’t happen”, chief fire officer Neil Gillespie said. “But we’re grateful for that training when they do.”

The brigade has 35 volunteers, (four women), and range in age from early 20s through to Gil Stace in his mid 70s. Gil has been involved as a volunteer for 54 years, the past eight in Cromwell.  

Training is held weekly, and the role of supportive employers and family is one Neil readily acknowledges.  

“Employers support the fire service by letting our team have time off work to go to training and to the families of firefighters too - thanks are due; they are the ones dealing with callouts at all times of the day and night,” he said.

The gratitude goes both ways. One local who lives near where the fire occurred, was quick to say thanks - with a cake.  

Judith McDowall, owner of The Cake Lab, saw the drama unfold and when the fire was under control, sent her children down with freshly iced chocolate cake. 

“I know many of these guys,” she said. “They do such a good job.”

Volunteer turnover is low in Cromwell, but there are a few vacancies at present. A recruitment drive is planned over the next few weeks. For more information on what is required to join, go to www.fireandemergency.nz.