Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade

03/09/2026

Old girls getting some sunshine ☀️

23/08/2026

🔥Member Profile Monday 🔥

Meet Kaira!

Rank and Service length:
Qualified Firefighter (QFF), 6 years.

Why did you join the mighty Thames Fire Brigade?
"I wanted to do something for the community and help others."

First working callout:
An MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident) up the Kauaeranga Valley.

Favourite appliance/truck?
T557 - Shes old, but loved.

Fun fact about Kaira:
Kaira has climbed Skytower 3 times (all 5ft of her!).

Admin note - Kaira is also super energetic and brings all the fun to trainings and social events, and yet is super professional on the job. She has just come back from maternity leave and we are so glad she is back on the trucks with us!
Some Hauraki Plains College: What's happening at HPC staff and students may recognise her as she is currently on staff there (while balancing being a Mum and studying )

20/08/2026

Throwback Thursday but its just a picture from our social function last month that I forgot to tell you all about

We went to Thai for dinner and it was fabulous as usual - no surprises there, 10/10.

Then we came back to station to play a game called Jingo! (Basically just musical bingo?). 10/10 as well.

Getting together is a great way to destress, spend time together and build connections (which helps us work together on the job too). Our volunteers put alot of their time into training and calls, and their families make sacrifices for this too so these social gatherings are very important!

👩‍🚒 - KG

18/08/2026

Thames! Have we done you proud this year? The United Fire Brigades Association is asking for nominations from communities who have seen, heard and experienced the cool stuff brigades all across the country do on the daily.
If you think that the Thames Fire Brigade is worthy of a nomination, please feel free to do so on the link below.
Each nomination will be read and the judges have specified that they are looking for quality nominations.
Do your thing Thames!
🔥WHO DESERVES TO BE NZ’S VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE OF THE YEAR? 🔥
Every day, volunteer fire brigades across Aotearoa show up for their communities — any time, every time.
They’re there when the siren sounds 🚨but their contribution goes far beyond emergency response. They visit our schools, support local events, lend a hand when times are tough and help make our communities stronger.
Now it’s your turn to show up for them ❤️
To celebrate International Volunteer Year 2026, the UFBA has launched our Brigade of the Year 2026 campaign, and we want to hear what makes your local volunteer fire brigade special.
💬Tell us their story.
Maybe they go above and beyond for your community.
Maybe they’ve been there for you or someone you know.
Maybe they have incredible team spirit.
Or maybe you simply want to acknowledge all the times they’ve shown up for you and your community.
📅Nominations close Sunday 11 October.
🏆Three brigades will be named Brigade of the Year 2026 for the Small, Medium and Large Brigade categories and receive a trophy and vouchers to support the brigade and its members. The winners will be announced at the UFBA's Conference Hui on 25 October.
👉Full details including the nomination form and terms and conditions are available on the UFBA’s website: https://www.ufba.org.nz/brigade-of-the-year-2026

As part of International Volunteer Year 2026, the United Fire Brigades' Association (UFBA) is inviting New Zealanders to nominate their local volunteer fire brigade for Brigade of the Year.

17/08/2026

Member profile Monday!

Meet Henno 😎

Rank and service time?
Firefighter (FF), 4 years

Why did you join?
To be apart of something and help the community

First working call?
I can't remember but my first real memorable callout was an MVA (motor vehicle accident)

Favourite truck/ appliance?
557

Fun fact about you?
I’m a New Years baby

Admins note:
Henno works for Fairview Motors alongside another brigade member. Their employer is a real MVP and allows both boys to run when that siren goes! Losing two workers at once is a big loss for any business during the day so we are very greatful for this

Henno has also done a few waterways competitions with our team over the years

👩‍🚒 - KG

27/07/2026

Member profile Monday!

Meet Ashton!

Rank and service time?
Qualified Firefighter (QFF), 11 years

Why did you join?
To help the community in time of need

First working call?
First real fire was a rural shed fire near Kopu

Favourite truck/ appliance?
551 cause its the first arriving at a fire

Fun fact about you?
I’m in my 5th season of waterways competition for Thames

Admins note:
The A in Ashton stands for awesome 😎

👩‍🚒 - KG

24/07/2026

So proud of our ex member Michelle Hayes (her Dad is one of our Officers, Sean..... featured recently) and her CrossFit crew, Kia Maia who are currently competing at the international The CrossFit Games over in the US of A.

Michelle actively served in our brigade for several years, from when she turned 16.

We wish her and her team of absolute athletes (this CrossFit business is next level!) all the very best for the next few days, we can't wait to see how you all go, from us here in little old Thames Fire Brigade ☺️

20/07/2026

Member profile Monday!

Meet Sean

Rank and service time?
Station Officer (SO), 18 years

Why you joined?
My Dad served for 15 years in the Tolaga Bay Volunteer Fire Brigade from when I was about 2 years old. So I grew up as a Fire Brigade brat hanging around at brigade events wishing I was a grown up and could do what my father was doing. I saw how important the brigade was for the local community, especially a small isolated community as Tolaga Bay was back then. It wasn’t until I moved to Thames 20 years ago that I was in a position to join our Brigade and follow in my father’s footsteps as a firefighter.

First working callout?
A chimney fire at Tararu. I was mowing the lawns, and unable to hear the siren, so one of my children excitedly alerted me that the siren was going. I managed a seat on the second truck and somehow made myself useful despite being an absolute greenhorn.

Favourite Truck/ Appliance:
I do like our Iveco Firetruck – Thames 551. It has a wide range of equipment and drives nicely. This appliance is a far cry from the Word War 2 era Fargo fire truck that Tolaga Bay Brigade had in the 1960s and 1970s – the fire fighters had to ride on the back in an open cockpit regardless of the weather.

Fun Fact about you?
In case anybody didn’t notice, I like going fishing occasionally 🎣

Admins note:
Sean has given tonnes of time to our social committee, planning fun social functions for u to attend over the years!
He also has trained many of us through our recruitment (me included!)

👩‍🚒 - KG

17/07/2026

we still have some slots available and can do local delivery tomorrow. Don't get caught in the cold - email today to lock in - [email protected]

🔥Thames Fire Brigade FIREWOOD Fundraiser 🚒🪵

Power bills up? Wallet screaming? ⚡💸
Good news—we’ve got the heat.
Thames Fire Brigade selling firewood,
Way cheaper than the switch on your wall.
We stop houses burning down for free,
Now help us out and buy part of a tree 🌳😉
Warm homes, smiling firefighters,
And no scary power bill surprises.
🔥 Firewood that’s hot
💰 Prices that are cool
🚒 Local legends approved

$130 per thrown cubic metre of mixed wood

Pick up at Thames Fire Station on Saturday the 18th of July 9am - 12pm
Bring your trailer 🚙
Please contact : [email protected] to book yours 🔥

09/07/2026

Last night we had THE BEST training!
A huge thanks to Claymark Kopu and Thames Towing & Workshop for providing the venue and a couple of cars for us to 'dismantle'.

We were joined by our mates from Puriri Volunteer Fire Brigade Turua Fire Brigade and Ngatea Fire Brigades.
Last night was a great opportunity for our crews to come together in a training environment, rather than a real life incident.

Senior Firefighters from all brigades were strategically instructed to be in charge of the incidents as we are constantly wanting to grow and develop our people and their skills. They were supported by Officers, Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs to work their way and support their crews and smashed it!

Interstation collaboration at its best!