FIRE FIGHTERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 167, 17 July 1941, Page 6

FIRE FIGHTERS

EMERGENCY SERVICE

TRAINING STARTS AUGUST 4

General training of the Emergency Fire Service personnel is to commence at the various fire stations in the Auckland district on Monday. August 4. The Auckland command, comprising -iSO officers and men, is divided into six divisions each, under the direction of a divisional ofliecr and an assistant.

The disposition of the men has been so arranged that the maximum coverage is afforded in the high-risk area, with divisions located in the outer suburban areas to either tackle fires there or else act as reinforcements in areas that mav be hard pressed. The strength of the various divisions varies from GO to 90 men dependent upon local conditions. For instance, the central division in the city area is composed of 75 men with strong reinforcing divisions on the right and left flanks.

Maximum Efficiency The training is designed to bring about a state of maximum efficiency m a minimum of time. For three months the men will train from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, inclusive, and on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. During this period the training of the E.F.S. will be undertaken by members of the permanent stall" of the brigade; therealter the service will be responsible for maintaining and improving the standard reached. To this end a special course for ofiicers and n.e.o. instructors has been in progress at the Central Fire Station for some weeks and will continue for a further period of two or three months.

Of the total number of officers and men required, ihis course will provide about 50 per cent; the balance will be selected after the completion of general training. By this means not only will every man in the service have an equal opportunity to qualify for rank, but what is more important, those in command will have a greater opportunity of selecting those most suited to the various positions. The same principle prevails for the nomination of officers as for n.c.o.'s; seven have so far been appointed and the remaining eight are to be selected from the ranks. Decentralised Control When training is well advanced, a number of emergency fire stations will be established in the city and certain suburban areas. Gear and equipment will be stored there, and in an emergency the firemen will thus be able to come into operation with the minimum of delay. Each division is divided into a number of sections of 15 men under the charge of a section officer. Each section will be equipped with a trailer pump, a quantity of hose and all other equipment necessary to make them a mobile self-contained firefighting unit.

A system of emergency communications will keep the office of the district fire controller posted with the movements of the various sections. For minor outbreaks the sections will operate independently, but at more serious fires these civilian firemen will, like the A.F.S. of Britain, work under the direction and control of the trained personnel of the permanent brigades.