New year new roof, plenty of callouts too St Andrews Volunteer Fire Brigade

• Published date: 27 March 2024
• Publication title: Central Rural Life

That number follows a quieter than normal 2023, in which the brigade attended 37 callouts; a mixture of fires, medical events and motor vehicle crashes, as well as a number of false alarms

Two members of the brigade completed their seven-day recruits course, graduating as firefighters from the Woolston training centre.

New recruits Sam Stowell — whose father is also a brigade member — and Joe Burgess, who has transferred to St Andrews from the rural brigade at Rangitata, were welcomed.

Two brigade members have left the brigade due to moving out of the district, leaving current numbers at 16 operational staff and a brigade support person.

Chief fire officer Rob Usmar said firefighters Olivia Waldron and Lisa Grant are training for this year’s Sky Tower challenge, raising funds for leukaemia / blood cancer in May. Any donations will be gratefully accepted.

‘‘Karen and I will be there supporting them on the day but won’t be doing the challenge. Three years in a row was enough. We’ll let the younger ones take it on.’’

The St Andrews Fire...