First-response vehicle indispensable

The Port Chalmers Volunteer Fire Brigade’s new first-response vehicle became operational in April 2024. In the 15 months up until 30 June 2025, it had attended 99 jobs.

Supported by our cruise partners, Port Otago contributed $100,000 towards the $250,000 project, which included a garage for the vehicle. Other contributors were the Lion Foundation, Otago Community Trust, New Zealand Lottery Grant Board, and West Harbour community individuals and businesses.

So what were the 99 jobs?

• 5 flood/weather related call-outs in early October, where the ute was used to evacuate people and pump water at Aramoana
• 8 occasions, where it transported additional crew as back-up to the fire appliance
• 4 motor vehicle collisions, and
• 82 medical events across West Harbour, generally in outlying communities.

The ute has also been used for hydrant checking, training, familiarisation visits, and transport of patients to Dunedin Hospital when an ambulance has been unavailable.
Port Chalmers Brigade Chief Fire Officer Stephen Hill: “PORT2733 is settling in nicely and, to be honest, we would now be lost without it and the resource garage.”