Koitiata Volunteer Fire Brigade

24/08/2026

Recently the Koitiata Volunteer Fire Brigade hosted an awards evening, anchored by a Gold Star ⭐️ presentation to Darrell Boyd (25 years consecutive service) a huge achievement, our brigade are very proud of Darrell and all award recipients, we were privileged to host founding and past members of the Koitiata brigade and gold star holders, a great evening was had by all.

29/04/2026

🔥⚠️ Hot Ashes Can Start Fires ⚠️🔥

As we head into cooler months and fireplaces are in use, it’s important to remember that ashes can stay hot for days even when they look completely out.

🚫 Never put hot ashes in plastic bins, cardboard boxes, or near anything that can burn
✔️ Always place ashes in a metal container with a lid
✔️ Store the container well away from your home, deck, or other structures
✔️ Allow at least 5 days for ashes to fully cool before disposing of them

🔥 Many house fires start from improperly disposed ashes don’t let yours be one of them.

Stay warm but stay safe. 💙

24/04/2026

20/04/2026

A heads up for Koitiata Village and surrounding areas, there is a possibility the Turakina river will reach flood levels around 0900 tomorrow morning Wednesday 22/04
If this happens the river may flow out over Beach Road, might pay to get those supplies today as there is no way out through the forest with trees still down after the recent high winds.
Take care and stay safe.

20/04/2026

With weather on the way across the region, it's now important to get prepared for potential impacts of flooding and landslides. 🌧️

First things first, stay up to date with the latest forecast from MetService. We’ll also share updates on here, so give us a follow.

Here are some simple actions you can take now to get prepared:
⚠️ Don’t wait for official warnings or advice - trust your danger sense and evacuate if you feel unsafe.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒 Make a plan with family and friends for where you’ll meet if you need to evacuate.

🐾 Bring pets inside and move livestock to higher ground as they can become unsettled during a storm.

💧Surface flooding and slips are likely, and can be unpredictable. Act quickly if you see rising water.

🚧 Avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Road closures due to surface flooding are likely, so if you must travel, check local district and city council websites/pages and NZTA Journey Planner for SH road closure information.

✅ If safe to do so, clear your drains and gutters now to prepare for heavy rain.

👉 For landslides, have a basic plan and stay alert for warning signs like cracks in the ground, slipping soil, or tilting trees and fences, especially after heavy rain.

➡️ More info on getting prepared: https://www.mwcdem.govt.nz/regional-hazards/flooding and
https://www.mwcdem.govt.nz/regional-hazards/storms

Look out for each other, and remember to check in on your neighbours. 💛

25/03/2026

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is moving the Manawatū-Whanganui coastal zone into a restricted fire season at 8am today, Wednesday 25 March, until further notice.

Levin, Foxton, Sanson and Bulls are excluded as they fall within inland zones.

A restricted fire season means a permit is required from Fire and Emergency to light an open-air fire.

Announcing the change, Acting Community Risk Manager Barry Madgwick says the coastal zone has been subject to a long dry spell in recent months.

"These conditions mean the fire risk is increased," he says.

"The coastal zone has forestry plantations, scrub, pasture grassland, tussock and marram grasses - all of which are fuel for serious fires. We are now starting to see an increasing number of fires getting out of control, which can happen at this time of year.

"Having a restricted fire season gives us greater control of who can burn and when, and we can provide direct fire safety advice to those completing burns."

"We are asking the public to take extra care during these conditions.

"The rest of the Manawatū-Whanganui district is also dry and further restrictions may follow if the current conditions continue," Barry Madgwick says

03/03/2026

🚨 Smoke Alarm Maintenance Matters 🚨

Smoke alarms save lives but only if they’re working.

Take a few minutes today to check yours:

✅ Test alarms monthly
✅ Change batteries when needed (or at least once a year)
✅ Vacuum around the vents to remove dust
✅ Replace alarms every 10 years

Working smoke alarms give you early warning and precious time to get out safely.

Don’t wait for a fire to find out it’s not working. 🔥Test it today. 🚒

03/03/2026

🍂🔥 Autumn Fire Safety Checklist 🔥🍂

As the temperatures drop and we start using heaters and fireplaces again, now’s the time to get fire safe for winter.

✅ Get your chimney swept before regular use
✅ Test your smoke alarms (and replace batteries if needed)
✅ Check electric blankets for damage before using
✅ Keep heaters at least 1 metre away from curtains and furniture
✅ Clean lint filters in dryers
✅ Store firewood well away from the house
✅Clean gutters of dead leaves & debris

A little preparation now can prevent a fire later.

https://www.fireandemergency.nz/winter-fire-safety/

Stay warm. Stay safe. 🚒

22/02/2026

Wow take a look at this …. No wonder the river was pumping here Turakina Beach

20/02/2026

HAZARD WARNING ‼️
After the high winds there are a lot of trees blown over in the local forest, something to be very wary of are the trees that are hung up, there is a high risk these could come down any time, with further high winds predicted it may be better to stay away until this has been tidied up by the forestry contractors