Funding fuels Edgecumbe Volunteer Fire Brigade’s capacity to cater for community in emergencies
With the help of a grant from Trust Horizon, the Edgecumbe fire station’s electrical system, kitchen, and canteen will soon be able to cater for over 100 people in the event of an emergency.
When Edgecumbe experienced severe flooding in 2017, the local fire station was quickly transformed into a central community support hub. Chief Fire Officer, Adrian Massey, remembers how the events unfolded. “You couldn’t have picked a worse spot on the Rangitāiki river for the burst to occur. It happened in the most densely populated part of the river, where it had the biggest impact,” Massey recalls. “People were being moved out of their homes or self-evacuating, and they needed a place to meet. For two weeks following the floods, the station also became the base for police, army, and search and rescue teams.”
At the height of the response, the station was responsible for providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 150 people each day. It soon became apparent that the fire station’s facilities were not up to scratch for such numbers. In fact, without the help of two additional kitchen/canteen units, provided by Ngaruawahia volunteer fire brigade and the rapid response team (RRT), catering for those numbers would have been impossible. “Our facilities were limited to one small oven, and barely enough room to swing a cat,” says Massey. “To be more self-sufficient, and better look after ourselves and the community, we identified that the kitchen and canteen areas needed an upgrade.”
Funding from Trust Horizon has gone towards kitchen appliances, a dryer, air conditioning units, a security camera system, and a station-wide upgrade to LED lighting. “The new electrical equipment will improve energy efficiency throughout the building, and exceed current standards,” says Trust Horizon Chairman, Aaron Milne. “This project is an important investment in the local community, and ensures the Edgecumbe Volunteer Fire Brigade facilities will be available to support local groups and be even better equipped to respond to emergency events.”
The Volunteer Fire Brigade worked with Fire and Emergency New Zealand on the newly completed kitchen renovations, with cabinetry funded by the Lion Foundation. The station’s lighting, security, and heat pump upgrades are all currently underway. “The upgrades are brilliant, and the work that Trust Horizon does in the community is outstanding,” says Massey. “We’d like to say a big thank you to the Trust Horizon team for their ongoing support.”
Read more about Trust Horizon’s community grants here.