Katikati Volunteer Firefighters Upskill in Vehicle Rescue

Katikati volunteer firefighter Danielle Lister is feeling far more prepared to respond to motor vehicle accident (MVA) callouts after completing a two-day specialist training course. Lister was among five members of the Katikati brigade — ten firefighters in total, drawn from Waihi, Paeroa and Thames — who took part in the Motor Vehicle Accident course held on 18–19 October at Henry's Rod Shop on Marshall Road.

The training was organised by Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade acting chief fire officer Craig Gray, who arranged for the course to be held at his own workplace. Two tutors from Fire and Emergency New Zealand's National Training Centre led the sessions.

Gray noted the Katikati brigade operates one rescue tender that attends MVA callouts in the district. Firefighters working on that vehicle must be qualified to use hydraulic rescue tools — commonly known to the public as the jaws of life — which are used to safely extract people trapped in vehicles following crashes.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).