Sisters answer call for brigade help

ANDY JACKSON/Taranaki Daily News

SISTER ACT: Jana, 20, left, and Jozien Hannah, 18, of the Opunake fire brigade are two of the female making up the numbers of volunteer firefighters around the region.

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A shortage of volunteer firefighters at some Taranaki brigades has alarm bells ringing.

About 50 volunteers are needed to bring the region's brigades up to full strength.

And fire chiefs say recruiting more females could be the answer.

Daytime turnouts are the real concern and they want to hear from anyone, male or female, young or old, keen to help out their community.

Inglewood fire chief Cameron Gillespie says the brigade was struggling to send a second engine to emergencies and was in desperate need of more daytime volunteers. "Lives could be lost if we don't do something about it or people don't offer their support for their community."

Mr Gillespie says the brigade has two young female firefighters but would welcome more. "They are very capable of doing the job."

Jana, 20, and Jozien Hannah, 18, of the Opunake brigade say they would encourage other females to join up.

"I went along to my first training and I just got hooked on it," said Jana, who has been in the brigade for about three years.

Jozien followed her sister's lead about a year later.

"For people who don't have very good self confidence, it teaches you what you can do and helps build up self-esteem," she says.

The pair, who both have black belts in taekwondo, say they enjoy helping out their community and the camaraderie within the brigade. "You go through tough times together and form bonds," Jana said.

"It's good knowing that you've done something to help someone else. It's pretty much like a family down here," Jozien said.

They say females were well accepted in the traditionally male-dominated profession.

"As long as you show that you are going to put in as much effort as everyone else it doesn't matter."

South Taranaki volunteer support officer Warwick Stewart said getting daytime crews was critical.

"Females can do just as good a job as males. Sometimes having the housewives available during the day when the kids are at school can be handy," Mr Stewart said.

The fire service was not only looking for females but anyone keen to put something back into the community.

- © Fairfax NZ News