It was a day for firefighters and their families as the Ranfurly Fire Brigade held an open day on Saturday (September 16) to celebrate its 75th Jubilee.

Station officer William Dowling said about 100 people attended over the course of the day, experiencing a demonstration of rural fire equipment, portable pumps and portable dams, a simulated motor vehicle accident where firefighters showed how someone would be cut out if need be, and a great favourite with big and small kids, using the fire hoses. 

The brigade, whose members are all volunteers, also marked 50 years of service for senior firefighter Ewan Mason, and the unveiling of a new honours board.

William has two brothers in the rural brigade, and his sons Fletcher and Emmett have followed in his footsteps to become volunteer firefighters.

“In the Maniototo there are about 50 operational firefighters,” he said. 

Volunteer firefighter Fletcher Dowling assists Mackenzie Scott (10) to knock down a target.

William’s wife, Michelle, said the firefighting community was a family too.

“We’re a wee bit isolated from elsewhere so when something happens, we all pull together,” she said. 

Taking young children through the station could also remove any fear that young children might feel at hearing sirens, Michelle said.

“Now that they are first responders as well, the siren is not just for fires. If you’ve got grandma and she’s not well, they often come to assist.”

Ranfurly Chief Fire Officer James Hazlett said becoming first responders 30 years ago was one of many changes he had seen in his 38 years of volunteering.

The biggest change had been in the use of technology, with firefighters being sent alerts to incidents on their cell phones so they could go straight there rather than marshalling first at the station. 

“Our communities can’t exist without volunteers,” he said.

That was no news to Michelle, who said her sons were always going to follow their father as volunteers.

“We have always taught the kids to give back to the community,” she said.