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The Manly Volunteer Fire Brigade will open the station doors to the public this Saturday November 9, as part of celebrations marking its 60th year of serving the community.
The Open Day will give visitors an opportunity to meet some of the volunteers, learn about the brigade’s history and enjoy activities that have been organised especially for the day.
This includes the opportunity to watch a kitchen fire demonstration, showing how to deal with a small oil fire in a kitchen.
Spokesperson for Fire and Emergency says, the demonstrations are also an opportunity to learn other fire safety tips and they will be held at regular intervals throughout the day.
For those with an interest in a more interactive or hands on activity, there will be the Escape My House virtual reality (VR) experience.
“This gives a unique view on how quickly a fire can spread through your home,” Fire and Emergency spokesperson says. “This is a first for a Manly brigade community event and one which even our firefighters are battling to get a go on.”
The day is very much focussed on welcoming the community to the station and will be ideal for people of all ages, including tamariki, families and individuals interested in community safety and volunteering.
“It will be an opportunity to learn about fire safety in a fun and engaging way.
“Families can get familiar with their local emergency services and this, in turn, builds trust and raises awareness about fire safety at home.
“Visitors will be able to get practical tips directly from firefighters on the importance of fire preparedness, escape plans, installing smoke alarms, and generally better understand how to safeguard your property.
“The key message is to strengthen community safety through fire awareness, encourage volunteer support, and to foster connections between our brigade and the people we serve.”
The open day is one of a number of events being held to mark the 60th anniversary.
The Whangaparāoa Library is hosting a Diamond Jubilee photographic display of the brigade over the past 60 years, which is on show until November 30. There will also be an evening event for past and present brigade members, of which there have been around 180 over the last 60 years.
Auxiliary brigade
Launched as an auxiliary brigade to the Silverdale Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1964, Manly was stood up under the control of Senior Station Officer George Henderson. Founding members were Vic Pearson, Des Bedingham, Les Flannery, Alan Johns and Bill McGowan.
Starting small with a 1936 Ford V8 as its first fire truck operating out of a garage, the brigade quickly grew and in 1970 found a permanent home in a brand-new fire station, officially opened by the Minister for Internal Affairs.
Today the brigade responds to more than 250 calls a year, from the New World supermarket on Whangaparāoa Road to the end of the peninsula and serves of a population of about 24,500 people.
The Open Day is free and will run from 11am to 2pm.
