On Wednesday 20 August, seven of us Nosey Parkers trotted off to the Tasman Rural Fire Station, curious as ever. Waiting to greet us were three friendly firemen and a trainee, all ready to show us around.
Our guide for much of the visit was Richard Le Long, who has been with the station since it first started—27 years ago!
He began by pointing out the coloured helmets, which aren’t just for show. Each colour tells you what role or rank a firefighter holds, so in the middle of an emergency everyone knows exactly who’s who. Very clever.
Richard then pulled out a cut-down pump to show us how water pressure is boosted—so simple once explained, but we were impressed. After that, he led us to the fire ute.
This little vehicle is a real treasure chest on wheels. Every nook and cranny was packed with hoses, small pumps, first aid kits, tools, spare batteries, radios, and even snacks and bottles of water to keep the firefighters going.
Not a centimetre was wasted—everything had its place, neat as a pin. We learned that the shiny new building was gifted by the Tasman District Council, though the firefighters did the fitting out themselves. Before this, the whole operation ran out of a draughty old tin shed on High Street. Quite the upgrade!
Next came the big fire truck—what a beast! David Herd took over here, explaining that this four-wheel-drive giant is the first to head out to any call.
Designed mainly for vegetation fires, it also helps the town brigade when needed.
It carries a whopping 3,200 litres of water (compared to the ute’s 450), plus bigger hoses and pumps.
We were even invited to climb aboard and get a feel for it. Finally, Mark Wilson the fire chief took us into the canteen, a cosy room lined with fire memorabilia and a fabulous collection of toy fire engines gathered over fifty years by one of the firemen. Over a welcome cuppa, the firefighters patiently answered our endless questions.
Just as we were about to leave—drama! A fire call came in. We watched as crew members dashed in, pulled on their gear, and sped off with siren wailing. What a finale!
A big thank you to Richard, David, Mark and Indee for answering all our questions. It was a visit full of fun, learning, and just the right touch of excitement.
