Palmerston Volunteer Fire Brigade

29/11/2025

⚠️ Palmerston vegetation fire Saturday update ⚠️

The fire on Goodwood Rd is still active, but under control.

Ground crews and helicopters dampening down the fire today will cease operations at 6pm and there is no need for an overnight crew to monitor.

There will be firefighters returning in the morning.

Residual smoke will remain in the burn area. This is normal, but if you are concerned about your health, please ring Healthline for free advice on 0800 611 116 or see your doctor if you have breathing difficulties or chest pain.

A massive thank you to our people for their hard mahi over the last few days, as well as our contractors Port Blakely, Wenita, Johnsons, and Central South Island Helicopters.

28/11/2025

⚠️ Palmerston vegetation fire Friday update ⚠️

Our crews have made good progress in dampening down the fire on Goodwood Rd.

One crew will be monitoring the scene overnight, and we will likely have crews in attendance throughout the weekend.

Smoke will remain around the town as well. If the smoke causes respiratory problems, please ring Healthline for free advice on 0800 611 116 or see your doctor if you have breathing difficulties or chest pain.

27/11/2025

⚠️Palmerston Fire Update 8.50am Friday⚠️
Huge thanks to all of the firefighters across Otago who worked so hard on multiple fires yesterday.
🔥The fire at Palmerston is the only one from yesterday that is still active, and it is contained.
🔥36 firefighters and two helicopters are back at the fireground and we expect to be working there tomorrow as well.
🔥Goodwood Road is closed from the railway crossing to keep the public and our people safe.
🔥With the wind picking up, there is a fair amount of smoke around. People in the vicinity of the fire should keep windows and doors shut and stay inside if possible. Keep the ventilation systems in your house and car turned off too.
🔥If the smoke causes respiratory problems, please ring Healthline for free advice on 0800 611 116 or see your doctor if you have breathing difficulties or chest pain.

⚠️9pm update⚠️

The Palmerston fire is now contained. Thank you to all our people who have been working hard this afternoon and evening! We will have a crew monitoring the fire overnight.

Please be aware smoke may blow towards the town tonight. People in the vicinity of the fire should keep windows and doors shut and stay inside if possible. Remember to also keep the ventilation systems in your house and car turned off.

If the smoke causes respiratory problems, please ring Healthline for free advice on 0800 611 116 or see your doctor if you have breathing difficulties or chest pain.

⚠️7.45pm update⚠️

Palmerston: With the wind dying down, crews can start getting the fire contained.
There are still ground crews working alongside eight trucks and four helicopters.
The fire has burnt 25 hectares of pine.
The helicopters will cease operations at sunset, and one crew will remain overnight. More crews will return in the morning to continue mopping up.
There are no structures at risk.

Balclutha: This fire is now under control - thank you to our crews for all your hard mahi!
Two tankers remain to dampen down the area.

⚠️5.25pm update⚠️
The fire at Palmerston is burning over several hectares and is not yet under control. Firefighters have successfully protected a nearby house and multiple crews are working with the support of three helicopters to contain the fire.
⚠️4.30pm⚠️
Firefighters are responding to several large fires and other incidents from Balclutha to Papakaio in the Waitaki. Our Region Coordination Centre in Dunedin has activated, as there are also five vegetation fires in Southland this afternoon.
• Conditions continue to be windy in most parts of our region so please do not light any outdoor fires.
• If you have had any fires in the last few weeks, please go and check that they are completely out and will not be fanned back into life by the winds. It is your responsibility to make sure fires you have lit are fully extinguished.
The Otago incidents as of 4.30pm are:
🔥 Balclutha - vegetation fire on Johnston Rd, now controlled but 30 firefighters and two helicopters still working.
🔥 Palmerston - vegetation fire which spread from a structure fire - ten crews of firefighters and three helicopters working
🔥 Tokarahi (Waitaki District) - shed fire which has spread - three crews on scene and more on the way
🔥 Papakaio - fire caused by a trampoline which blew into power lines. Crews have extinguished the fire and left the scene
🔥 Whitestone - Crews responded to reports of a tree fire.
Clutha District Council Dunedin Fire Brigade NZ Kurow Volunteer Fire Brigade Waitaki Volunteer Fire Brigade Balclutha Volunteer Fire Brigade Clutha Valley volunteer fire brigade Waihola Volunteer Fire Brigade

25/11/2025

Who needs dinner and a movie when you can listen for sirens and lookout for fire appliances from 7pm tonight!!! And support the local food bank, we're driving around town collecting non perishable food items, bonus points if you donate canned goods! 🚨🚒🍽️🎉

17/07/2025

If you are able to provide a donation to support the East Otago Combined Road Crash Rescue Team's participation in the World Road Crash Competition in Croatia, please consider doing so through the Give a Little page. This is an excellent opportunity for the team to enhance their skills and acquire new knowledge to benefit New Zealand. East Otago Combined Road Crash Rescue Team

Fire fighters and medics wanting to represent their country at a world championship

14/07/2025

From the skytower team:
We would like to extend a massive thank you to everyone who supported our Sky Tower Challenge journey this year.
Your encouragement and generosity made a huge difference in helping us raise vital funds for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ.

A special shout-out goes to Oceana Gold, for your incredibly generous donations, we are proud to have you backing our team.

To Danny’s Plumbing Service, thank you for sponsoring our team tops and helping us show up in style.

A huge thank you as well to the Palmerston RSA, for hosting our raffle night, your support played a key part in our fundraising success.

And to the wider Palmerston community, your donations, support and encouragement fuelled every one the 1103 steps we took up the sky tower.

Thanks to all of you, we raised an incredible $16,977, earning 3rd place in the fundraising category for teams of 2–5 people.

We are honoured to represent our town and grateful to be part of a community that gets behind such a great cause.

24/05/2025

Official results from the Skytower Challenge have been released, with congratulations offered to all participants and a special mention for Aaron, who has secured another podium position in the Firefighter of Steel category.

22/05/2025

Good luck to the Palmerston team heading to the skytower challenge on Saturday! Its not to late to donate and support a great cause!
https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/t/2025-palmerston-volunteer-fire-brigade

14/05/2025

Sunday 18th May - 2pm
PALMERSTON COMMUNITY CENTRE Ronaldsay Street

A Westpac Trust Representative is coming to educate and speak about Frauds and Scams.
This event is being held in conjunction with the Palmerston RSA who are kindly hosting tea and coffee at their premises after the presentation .
Everyone is welcome so tell a friend about it - I look forward to seeing you there.

Shell Cobby
Constable/PST
Palmerston

29/04/2025

Fundraiser for Fire fighters sky tower challenge in May on behalf of the Palmerston Volunteer Fire Brigade Sky tower team.
All proceeds go to leukaemia and blood cancer NZ

ALL SOLD!!! THANKS EVERYONE! you can still donate below............

https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/t/2025-palmerston-volunteer-fire-brigade

27/04/2025

A big thank you to Steady as you go Palmerston and East Otago Contracting for their generous donation, which has enabled us to purchase a sharp protection kit to maintain a safe environment for our patients and personnel.

24/04/2025