Brightwater Volunteer Fire Brigade

17/09/2026

🔥 We have recently been called to several large-scale fires. These required a sustained effort from our crews on the ground and in the air.

Its important to make sure your old burn pile is fully extinguished and cool and can't escape, especially with the winds that we are forecast to receive over the spring period with the El Nino conditions.
✅️ Remember to always check the fire danger, weather forecast and notify us of your planned burn at checkitsalright.nz.
🌲 Vegetation and fuels will dry out quickly with just a few days of fine weather and wind. Ensure you have a plan in place to monitor and check your old burn sites and if in doubt about a fire in the area call 111 immediately.🚨 Don't wait until its too late.
Nelson Fire
Ngatimoti Volunteer Fire Brigade
Hira Volunteer Rural Fire Force
Tasman Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade

24/08/2026

📟Its been a busy few weeks for us here at Brightwater with 10 calls already for August and still a week to go. A great save by the crews from spreading further into forest with hard work on the ground and skill in the air thanks to Helicharter Nelson at this fire.🥵 💪
We may be in an open fire season, but things can quickly get out of hand with dry and windy conditions🧑‍🚒
🌤️Remember to checkitsalright.nz for current fire season conditions and forecasts.

17/07/2026

We understand that some residents have recently expressed concerns that the volunteer fire brigade siren sounds similar to an air raid warning. While we appreciate that the sound can be startling, it's important to remember the critical role the siren plays in keeping our community safe.

For volunteer firefighters, the siren is more than just a loud alarm — it's a call to action. It helps alert brigade members that an emergency response is needed, often when every minute counts. Whether it's a house fire, vehicle accident, medical emergency, or vegetation fire, a rapid response can make all the difference.

Our volunteer firefighters give their time freely to protect our community, day and night. The siren is one of the most reliable ways to notify responders quickly, particularly in areas where mobile coverage, technology, or pagers may not always be sufficient on their own.

While the sound may be inconvenient for a few moments, it represents something reassuring: local volunteers mobilising to help a neighbour in need.

The next time you hear the siren, remember that someone in our community may be facing one of the worst days of their life — and our volunteer firefighters are answering the call.

Our siren operates between the hours of 7am and 9pm , and is on a night switch to give our residents a peaceful nights sleep.
While you may not hear it at night time, rest assured if you need us, we will be on our way.

❤️ Thank you to all our volunteer firefighters for their dedication, commitment, and service.

11/07/2026

🚒 Just a friendly reminder that the speed limit when passing through accident scenes is 20km/h.
Please remain focused on your driving, and not driving past filming on your phone or taking photos. 📱❌️
Let's all do our part to get to where we are going safely. 👩‍🚒👮‍♀️👨🏽‍🔬👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

18/06/2026

Its National Volunteer Week and we want to say a huge thanks to our crew of amazing volunteers. 👍
When the siren sounds and they drop what they're doing, or if its in the middle of the night when everyone is sound asleep, they serve our community with pride, professionalism and courage.
From fires to floods and everything in between.
Thank you. 👏🚒🥰

01/06/2026

We currently have crews out in Brightwater assisting with some evacuations and road closures.
UPDATE 6:00AM
There is flooding and road closures on:
+Higgins Road, Spring Grove
+State Highway 6 Spring Grove
+State Highway 6 Main Road Hope/lLghtband Road- Brightwater Bridge north side
+Waimea West between Teapot Valley and Challies Road Closed
+Waimea West at Snowdens Bush
+Telenius Road
UPDATE 08:00AM
traffic management teams now in place at multiple sites, please adhere to warning signs and closures.
Please stay out of floodwaters as they may be contaminated, dont drive through flooded roads, and if you require assistance, please call 111. Stay up to date with the situation at Nelson Tasman Civil Defence

27/05/2026

This chimney can't breathe. If your fireplace is struggling to breathe and draw clear air, it may be puffing smoke back into your living area, be hard to get started and be a fire hazard.
Always get your chimney cleaned and checked before you light up.

23/05/2026

$14,128 for Blood Cancer NZ from our Brightwater Fire Sky Tower Challenge Team. That was over 50 flights of stairs while carrying B.a.
Awesome effort by everyone who took part in this event, with the countless hours of training, walking up Katania Heights, The Rutherford Hotel stairways, quiz nights, BBQ's and other events.
Team Brightwater you guys are amazing, be proud of yourselves, because we all are.

22/05/2026

Our challenge team are in Auckland ready for the big day tomorrow.
Good luck to all taking part in this event and raising funds for a great cause. GO TEAM BRIGHTWATER !! ❤️ 🚒 🧑‍🚒 👏
Our team will be mustering around 9am, so keep an eye out from then on with the climb starting shortly after.
⬇️Check out the live stream of the event here
https://www.youtube.com/live/mGdysSQYNFI?si=LYy2uOPrv-R2qDa9

The Brightwater Fire Sky Tower Challenge Team are here… less than 24hours to go we are all pumped, nervous and ready to go. We would like to thank everyone & every business/company for all their support. We will release over the next couple of weeks a sponsor & support post. Keep an eye on this page tomorrow for the live stream link & updates on the team.

Yet again if you haven’t already give us a like and a follow.

If you would like to make a last minute online donation please use the link below or via NZ Bank Deposit. All money going directly to Blood Cancer New Zealand.

https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/t/2026-brightwater-volunteer-fire-brigade

ELLIOT SLOTEMAKER
06-0958-0216635-02

(File picture owned by Elliot Slotemaker)
Brightwater Volunteer Fire Brigade

02/05/2026

Did you know that we respond to medical emergencies also? 🚒🚑
Our brigade is a medical co-response station, meaning we will respond alongside St John to critical medical calls.
We are fully equipped, trained and carry a defibrillator and Oxygen kit to assist. 🏨

This arrangement between Fire and Emergency, St John and Wellington Free Ambulance is seeing better outcomes for patients and communities right across Aotearoa. So if we turn up to a medical emergency near you, dont be surprised. We're here to help.
Serving our Brightwater Community Since 1967. 🧑‍🚒