Glenavy Volunteer Fire Brigade

04/04/2026

A recent training had brigade members out testing portable pumps and hoses at the waitaki river boat ramp.

04/04/2026

As we wind our clocks back 1 hour, a friendly reminder to check your smoke alarms are working properly. 30 seconds to push a button or a couple of minutes to change a battery could save lives.

28/11/2025

28/11/2025

A reminder that if you see or hear us out and about tonight, it’s our annual “ toot a can “ Any canned or non perishable food would be greatly appreciated. All donations going to the local food bank as they prepare food packs for those in need at this time of year. Either leave your donation somewhere visible for us to see as we make our way around streets or pop out and say gidday to us!

22/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A6A78LUq8/

ℹ️: Information about current Red and Orange Wind Warnings

🔴: Red Strong Wind Warning - Waitaki Valley and Canterbury High Country
🟠: Orange Strong Wind Warning - Waitaki

Good evening, folks. Looks like a windy night ahead, with a red warning from 1am Thursday to 5pm Thursday and an Orange Strong Wind Warning for the rest of Waitaki between 3am Thursday to 3pm Thursday.

We thought we'd collate all the information into one post here.

🔴: Severe gale northwesterlies with damaging gusts of 150 km/h in exposed places.
🟠: Severe gale northwesterlies gusting 130 km/h in exposed places. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

ℹ️: For the latest information on these, and any changes to them please check

Follow Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management and MetService New Zealand for updates and information.

🚗: Travel Advice is available via NZTA sites for Otago and Southland, and Canterbury and West Coast

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Otago & Southland have issued the following - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JNq42chEM/

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Canterbury & West Coast have issued the following - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16syBDhwXP/

🔥: FENZ have issued a total fire ban for Canterbury, and local advice is below

Otago - Fire and Emergency post about that here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ESViPoToi/

Waitaki Volunteer Fire Brigade post about that here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A1i8wUJoe/

⚠️: If you have issues with power, flooding, slips, or other weather-related issues - please check below.

⚡: Information from Network Waitaki at this post here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19kNBLYoxe/

🛣️: Information from Whitestone Contracting Limited here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BS8oqthgT/

Please take care, follow advice from the above, and have a safe evening.

22/10/2025

⚠️A total ban on open fires and fireworks comes into force across the whole of Mid-South Canterbury at noon today because of the gales, high temperatures and low humidity that are forecast for the next few days. This means no new fires at all, for any reason, and no fireworks. ⚠️
• We are asking every landowner, agricultural contractor, forestry manager and lifestyle block owner to help us avoid any more fires starting, or reigniting from previous burns.
• Anyone who has had an outdoor fire since the beginning of September is asked to go and check today that it is completely out. If you see any sign of heat or smoke, please act immediately to fully wet down the site. If this is not possible, call 111 so that firefighters can assist.
Yesterday’s fires showed the devastating effects that wildfires have on communities, putting lives at risk and causing significant damage. We are asking everyone to do their bit to make sure this doesn't happen anywhere else.

20/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/17EpatqtXW/

❗️We're in for a very windy weekend in Otago so please do not light any outdoor fires as they will be very hard to control and can easily escape. If you have had an outdoor fire in the last couple of weeks - yes, weeks! - please go and check that it is completely out, and water it well if there is any sign of heat. MetService New Zealand has issued an orange wind warning for our region. Please stay up to date with the forecasts.❗️
Wanaka Volunteer Fire Brigade Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade Clyde Volunteer Fire Brigade Waitaki Volunteer Fire Brigade Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Station Lake Hawea Volunteer Fire Brigade Omarama Volunteer Fire Brigade Omarama Volunteer Fire Brigade Ranfurly Volunteer Fire Brigade Roxburgh Volunteer Fire Brigade

20/09/2025

The red wind warning could see gusts of up to 150km/h and pose a threat to life from flying items and falling trees, MetService warns.

19/09/2025

💨‼️ Strong RED Wind Warning‼️💨

Damaging winds are expected later today - secure loose items, charge devices, prepare for possible power outages, and stay updated with local alerts.

✅ Please check any old burns to make sure they’re completely extinguished.
⛔ Postpone any planned burns until conditions improve.

🛑 RED Wind Warning – Waitaki Valley 🛑
A RED wind warning is in place for the Waitaki Valley. A Civil Defence alert has been sent to those in this area. Winds are expected to get up to damaging gusts of 150km/h.

Area: Canterbury about and west of the foothills, also west of SH1 south of the Rakaia River
Period: 17 hours from 10:00pm Sat 20 Sep to 3:00pm Sun 21 Sep
Forecast: Severe gale northwesterlies with damaging gusts of 150 km/h in exposed places.
Impact: Threat to life from flying items and falling trees. Destructive winds will cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport and power supply.
Action: Stay indoors or seek sturdy shelter away from trees. Avoid travel. Be ready for power and communication outages.

More info at ➡️ getready.govt.nz/emergency/storms

‼️ Strong Wind Wanring – North Otago ‼️
A strong wind warning is in place for North Otago.

Area: Queenstown Lakes, Central Otago and inland parts of North Otago, Dunedin and Clutha
Period: 8 hours from 12:00am Sun 21 Sep to 8:00am Sun 21 Sep
Forecast: Severe gale north to northwesterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning

Stay up to date at ➡️www.metservice.com/warnings

-CK

11/04/2025

This map shows the fire season status as of 9am 11/4/2025.

🔴 If your area is in a red zone, there is a total fire ban. No fires are permitted.
🟡 If your area is in a yellow zone, you may need to apply for a permit. Go to www.checkitsalright.nz to check and apply.
🟢 If your area is in a green zone, you do not need a permit but go to www.checkitsalright.nz for safety tips before lighting.

Remember, the fire season status can change at any time.

Go to www.checkitsalright.nz for the latest information.

17/03/2025

From the United Fire Brigades Association

A parliament petition has been put together by one of our members, from the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade, to change the ACC legislation to give volunteer firefighters the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid colleagues.

We are proudly supporting our members’ initiative, as it has strong alignment with the UFBA’s Strategic Priority on our Fairness and Equity Campaign to get volunteer firefighters more coverage under ACC.

Here is the link to the petition: https://petitions.parliament.nz/5872f736-ed2f-443c-f919-08dd5b668762 (closes 30 April 2025)

Please show your support by signing the petition and share this through your networks, on your brigades' social media and with your friends, families, and colleagues.

The UFBA will continue to advocate at a national political level, but as one of the 12,000 volunteer firefighters, it is you who can drive this change from the ground up. The aim is that our combined efforts mean we will meet in the middle on the doorstep of the decision-makers.

More information on the petition and background details on the ACC issue can be found on our website - https://www.ufba.org.nz/news/members-petition-change-acc-legislation