23 New Firemen Give Display

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 12

23 New Firemen Give Display

Twenty-three men recruited by the Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board showed at the Central Fire Station yesterday what they had learnt in their training.

At one stage of their dis play more than 2500 gallons of water a minute was being pumped through hose nozzles in the station yard. Most of the water was drawn from the Avon River. The 23 who gave the display had been recruited for the bridgade’s new manning roster, which will come into effect on Monday. They showed bow to rescue persons trapped in cars, save persons overcome by smoke in multistorey buildings, and how to use the brigade’s turn-table ladder.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Mr B. F. Hyland) said that another 29 recruits would begin training on Monday. This would enable the brigade to fill the new roster. “We had to give the first batch initial training so that our balance of fire crews turned out to a fire would be maintained. If we hadn’t, then we might have had a lot of firemen at a fire few of whom knew anything about what they were supposed to do.”

At 8 a.m. on Monday the fire crews will change from their 84-hour week to a 56hour week. The new system calls for crews to work two 10-hour days, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and two night shifts of 14 hours from 6 pjn. to 8 a.m., and have the next two days off. Adjustments will be made over a 14-week cycle to bring their hours to an average of 56 a week.

The photograph shows the ehairman of the board (Mr N. G. Pickering) and Mr Hyland inspecting the recruits.