Otematata Volunteer Fire Brigade

04/06/2026

In our corner of New Zealand, we respond to it all - fires, medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents, and yes… even animal rescues!

But to keep it that way, we need more locals to join the team. No experience needed, just a willingness to learn and a commitment to helping others.

If showing up when it matters is your kind of thing, get in touch - we’re recruiting now!

Contact us today, we can show you what we do on a training night, introduce you to our team and equipment, and work out what you can do to help the community too.

Jason 0210364143
Hayden 0273183323

27/05/2026

Otematata Volunteer Fire Brigade Would like to extend a big thank you to two local businesses for their particularly outstanding support this month.

Rob and the team at A2O Electrical made short work of replacing our chiller unit at the fire station, donating your time and effort to help us out after the old unit finally gave up the ghost.
Now we are back up and running, with cold refreshments for our volunteers which is very much appreciated!

Kirsty, Brent and their team at the Otematata best dam pub accommodated our local first responders from Ote and Omarama, while we went through another day of refresher medical training.
Thanks very much for giving us a generous deal on a great lunch last Sunday, everyone enjoyed their meal, and the crew you had on board are second to none.

It's been quite a busy start to the year, today marking 51 emergency responses so far.

Our small but dedicated team is extremely low on numbers, so we are urgently on the lookout for new members.
Please get in touch if you want to know more about how you can help your community by joining us at the fire brigade.
0210364143

Stay safe over the long weekend Folks, good luck with the boat racing and enjoy the weather while it lasts!

😁 👨‍🚒🚒 🔥 👩‍⚕️🚑🩺
🌨❄️☃️❄️❄️☃️❄️🌨

29/04/2026

Your small town is counting on a strong response.

When the call for help comes, someone needs to be ready.
With the right training and support, that someone could be you.

We are a small team of dedicated locals looking for more team mates to join our crew.

If you’re keen to step up for the Otematata community, reach out to us to find out more.

15/04/2026

Reminder - we appreciate your help with this.. See comments for an example of what a tricky hydrant looks like

Autumn prep: Adopt a Hydrant! 🚒
​Kia ora, locals and holiday home owners
​With the beautiful weather still upon us, we know many of you will still be spending time outside, tackling the garden, and enjoying the sun.
But as we look ahead, it's the perfect time for a critical fire safety reminder.
​Every minute counts when we respond to a house fire, and one of the most valuable time-savers is a clear and visible fire hydrant.
​If you have one of those nice, yellow hydrants on your front lawn or roadside strip, we'd love for you to "Adopt a Hydrant"!
​Here’s what you can do:
​Keep it Clear: Please ensure the area immediately surrounding the hydrant is free of long grass, shrubs, and gravel. Our truck drivers need clear access to establish a water supply fast.
​Know the Markers: If you didn't know, those small yellow triangles and blue cats eyes on the road indicate the exact location of a nearby hydrant. Keeping the area clear helps us confirm the location quickly, especially at night.
​
​Attached is an example of a fire hydrant that will take quite some time to open, and in the event of a fire seconds count!
​Your support helps keep the beautiful Otematata village safe! ❤️

03/04/2026

Its the end of daylight savings tonight, clocks go back 1 hr. Did you know you need to dust your smoke alarm?

24/03/2026

We understand people in our communities are concerned about the impact of the Middle East conflict on fuel, and it may be tempting to store extra fuel on your property. Fire and Emergency does not recommend this.

Fuel is a highly flammable substance, and storing large quantities of it comes with serious fire danger.

A fire involving fuel spreads rapidly and releases a lot of heat. Even a small spill can cause a devastating fire that will spread incredibly quickly.

Find further information on the storage of your existing fuel: www.epa.govt.nz/everyday-environment/petrol/

20/03/2026

Like many volunteer brigades, we need more volunteers. When the siren sounds, Otematata Fire Brigade relies on locals dropping what they’re doing to respond.

You might be able to help?

No experience needed — we provide training and gear. As a volunteer firefighter, you'll:
🔥 Serve your community
🔥 Learn valuable skills
🔥 Keep active
🔥 Be part of a supportive team

Remember- we go to all manner of emergencies and there are many roles that work together as a team during each emergency. If there are certain aspects you are not comfortable with, that's fine. We work together to get the job done 🤩

If you've thought about joining, now's the time...
📧 [email protected]
🚒 Or pop into the station Wednesday nights at 7pm
💻 give us a message on Facebook and one of our team will be in contact.

Don't assume someone else will turn up. Be the someone. 💪

Lets do the Mahi together ❤️

19/03/2026

Autumn prep: Adopt a Hydrant! 🚒
​Kia ora, locals and holiday home owners
​With the beautiful weather still upon us, we know many of you will still be spending time outside, tackling the garden, and enjoying the sun.
But as we look ahead, it's the perfect time for a critical fire safety reminder.
​Every minute counts when we respond to a house fire, and one of the most valuable time-savers is a clear and visible fire hydrant.
​If you have one of those nice, yellow hydrants on your front lawn or roadside strip, we'd love for you to "Adopt a Hydrant"!
​Here’s what you can do:
​Keep it Clear: Please ensure the area immediately surrounding the hydrant is free of long grass, shrubs, and gravel. Our truck drivers need clear access to establish a water supply fast.
​Know the Markers: If you didn't know, those small yellow triangles and blue cats eyes on the road indicate the exact location of a nearby hydrant. Keeping the area clear helps us confirm the location quickly, especially at night.
​
​Attached is an example of a fire hydrant that will take quite some time to open, and in the event of a fire seconds count!
​Your support helps keep the beautiful Otematata village safe! ❤️

11/03/2026

Callout #30 for 2026, for our brigade .
We regularly attend emergency calls with neighbouring brigades; Omarama, Kurow, and even Duntroon and Twizel, Police, St John, Otago Heli Rescue, and our local team from the Kurow Medical Centre.

Callout #6

10/03/26
3.43pm

Medical
Kurow - Otematata Road

Kurow 557
Otematata 5733
Kurow St Johns
Prime Doctor
Nz Police