Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) is asking people to join it in thanking its volunteers for donating their time, effort, and family life to serve and protect their communities.

This National Volunteer Week (June 16-22), FENZ chief executive Kerry Gregory acknowledged volunteers as “the backbone of New Zealand’s fire response”.

"Nearly twelve thousand people volunteer for Fire and Emergency, protecting the communities they live in, 24/7, 365 days a year," he said.

"Volunteers make up 80 percent of our workforce across the motu and we couldn’t run this organisation without them.”

Within the Upper Clutha, there are four local fire brigades - Wānaka, Hāwea, Luggate, and Makarora - with a total of  89 volunteers.

They include 70 firefighters, eight firefighter trainees, four brigade support members and seven operational support members.

"They are ordinary New Zealanders from all walks of life who are totally committed to serving their communities and who frequently go above and beyond to keep their communities safe and supported,” Kerry said.

A significant fire at Glendhu Bluffs in 2022 required every local fire brigade - including a 76-year-old fire chief and a 17-year-old on his first call out. PHOTO: Supplied

In 2022 a significant and destructive fire which started at Emerald Bluffs (near Glendhu Bay) required a response from all local fire brigades, as units from elsewhere in Central Otago, as well as a flight of 10 helicopters with monsoon buckets.

The 2022 fire the Luggate brigade fire fighters included 76-year-old fire chief Rod Anderson (who marked 50 years of fire fighting in this region later that year) and a 17-year-old Mount Aspiring School student on his first call-out.

Just a few weeks ago, Wānaka fire brigade stalwart Ralph Feagan was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

Ralph’s motivation for community service is “the old story”, he said. “It’s the people, the people, the people.”

Ralph said his father’s message that “you’ll get more pleasure from giving than taking” stuck with him.

He told the Wānaka App that local emergency services do an “absolutely bloody amazing” job, with families as a very important part of the team.

Read more: Ralph Feagan, ONZM: ‘It’s been a great ride’