Manawatu Volunteer Fire Brigade

17/06/2025

It’s Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu – National Volunteer Week!

Here’s to our crew of more than 11,800 volunteers serving across Aotearoa New Zealand 🙌
Our brigade is made up of 20 volunteers who respond 24/7, 365 days of the year. We want to acknowledge what they give up to do this. Dinners left getting cold, work is left for others to pick up and sometimes precious family moments are missed.

Please join us in thanking our volunteers for their time, commitment and dedication ❤ we couldn’t do it without them, and the support of their families and employers.

16/06/2025

13/06/2025

United Fire Brigades' Association of NZ are at Manfield today for the Annual Road Crash Rescue Challenge! Head on down to see some incredible teams working 🚒🚙

Open til 3:30pm today via the South Street entrance

11/05/2025

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mums out there and a special shout out to the 5 mums in our brigade 🩷

🌸👩‍🚒 Happy Mother’s Day! 👩‍🚒🌸

Today we celebrate all the incredible mums out there – the ones who juggle it all, keep us safe, and show up with love, strength, and a never-ending supply of hugs 💖

To the mums in our Fire and Emergency whānau – both career and volunteer – and to every mother in our communities:

🙏 Thank you for being our everyday heroes.
You inspire us with your courage, kindness, and resilience – both at home and on the front lines.

Enjoy your special day – you’ve earned it! 🌷🔥💐

09/05/2025

Feilding Volunteer Fire Brigade are holding their annual Electric Blanket testing day today, 10-2 at Feilding Fire Station. Come on down to ensure you are safe and warm this winter! 🔥

❄️🔥 It’s getting cooler – but don’t let fire risk heat up! 🔥❄️

As the nights get colder, many of us are reaching for the electric blankets – but remember:

⚠️ Never sleep with your electric blanket turned on
💤 Always turn it off before you hop into bed
🔌 Check for wear and tear – frayed wires or scorch marks = time to replace!

🛏️ Get your electric blanket tested for free at one of our upcoming safety check events:
📍 Whanganui Fire Station – Monday 12th May, 9am–3pm
📍 Feilding Fire Station – Saturday 10th May, 10am–2pm
🚶‍♀️ Walk-ins only – no bookings required

Let’s stay warm and fire safe this winter! 🔥🧤

https://www.fireandemergency.nz/home-fire-safety/sort-your-home-fire-safety/

04/05/2025

26/04/2025

Looking for something to do with your family today, head on down to the Bunnythorpe Volunteer Fire Brigade Emergency Services Open Day! We will be here all day, alongside many other incredible brigades and other emergency services 🚒🚓🚑

Please bring cash as many of the vendors are cash only!

10/04/2025

Are you interested in seeing what your local Emergency Services do and what they offer our community?

Head along to the Bunnythorpe Emergency Services Open Day on Sunday 27th April, 10am-3pm. We will be there and we hope to see you there too! 🚒🚑🚓

02/04/2025

Your Volunteer Fire Brigade needs your support.

We are reaching out to ask for your support in a petition started by a fellow volunteer in Queenstown. The petition calls for changes to ACC legislation to provide volunteer firefighters with the same coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts.
Currently, volunteers are excluded from cover relating to any work-related gradual illness, injury, disease or infection – this means that if a volunteer firefighter develops something serious as a result of their firefighting duties, such as cancer, heart/lung problems, or even hearing/vision loss, we are not eligible for ACC compensation. Simply because we are not paid to do this work.
But we respond to the same types of emergencies as our paid colleagues and therefore, are exposed to the same risks and toxins.
This issue extends to “Cover for work-related mental injury”. Volunteer firefighters, like paid firefighters, see some seriously traumatic situations, and that can have a big impact on our mental health. But volunteers are not covered by ACC for this either.
It's important that when our Volunteers need help, help is there to support them.

We would appreciate your support in this matter and thank you to those who have already signed or shared.
The petition is open for signatures until April 30, 2025.

02/04/2025

The Manawatū-Whanganui District will move back to an open fire season at 8am on Thursday, 3 April.

This includes all of the Horowhenua, Manawatū, Rangitikei and Whanganui and Palmerston North areas.

Manawatū-Whanganui District Manager Nigel Dravitzki says the current weather conditions have driven this change in fire season.

“The recent rainfall, heavy dew and cooler temperatures have reduced the wildfire risk,” he says.

“We’re also expecting quite a bit of rain in the next week which will further reduce the risk.”

An open fire season means permits are no longer required for open-air fires.

Anyone planning on lighting an open-air fire is encouraged to visit www.checkitsalright.nz.

Nigel Dravitzki would like to remind people to check the weather conditions before lighting an open air fire.

“The easiest way to do this is to go to www.checkitsalright.nz, where you can see the current fire danger and wildfire risk,” he says.

23/03/2025

23/03/2025

🌧️🔥 We’ve Had Some Rain, But Fire Restrictions Still Apply! 🔥🌧️

While we’ve had some rain, we are STILL in a Prohibited Fire Season. 🚫🔥 This means NO open-air fires are allowed and all permits are suspended in the Manawatū-Whanganui Coastal Zone, including Whanganui City, Bulls, Sanson, Foxton & Levin.

☀️ Rain doesn’t mean the fire danger is gone! Dry conditions can return quickly, and fires can still spread fast.

✅ Stay fire safe and check www.checkitsalright.nz for updates. 🚒