West Melton Volunteer Fire Brigade

03/09/2026

🔥 🚒 🧑‍🚒 bit of catch up on call numbers after a busy month for team.

Call-out #6 3/8/26 0042: car rolled. (WEST9571, KIRW727, KIRW7226, BURN917)

Call-out #7/8/26 2121: Roof fire. (WEST9571, WEST9526, ROLL427, ROLL4211, WIGR257, KIRW727, KIRW7211, FICANTE04)

Call-out #8 14/8/26 1842: Forestry slash pile in fire. (WEST9571, LINC411, LINC4111, GOVE3311, AKAR4671, LITT4726, LITT4771 plus many others over several days)

Call-out #9 16/8/26 0740: Car rolled into ditch. (WEST9571, WEST9526, ROLL427, KIRW727)

Call-out #10 27/8/26 1154: Power pole on fire. (WEST9571, ROLL427)

Call-out #11 28/8/26 1031: Garage door stuck on hand. (WEST9571, ROLL427)

Call-out #12 29/8/26 1008: 3 car MVC. (WEST9571, LINC417, SPRE221)

Call-out #13 29/8/26 1715: Rubbish Fire next to hedge. (WEST9571, WIGR257)

Call-out #14 30/8/26 0326: Burn hole flare up. (WEST9571, KIRW727, KIRW7211)

28/08/2026

We have held a number of these events in West Melton before. If you have any ideas please share them on the Canterbury Fire and Emergency post.

Every year for the past 6+ years, we have held community meetings across Canterbury prior to the summer fire season. Usually we approach the communities and advertise our meetings, sometimes with success and sometimes not so successful.

This time though we thought we might try something a little bit different to kick off our preparedness sessions and ask you, the amazing people of Facebook and Instagram, where you think we should come and have a chat? What communities would like us to come educate them on the upcoming fire season and how to keep your properties safe?

We usually combine our sessions with speakers from Civil Defence and Police, to talk about evacuations and animal welfare during fires. Are there any other agencies you would like to hear from at these talks?

We want to hear your thoughts and ideas about how we can help you be fire safe this summer. So let us know below 👇

27/08/2026

West Melton now has four new drivers for the brigade. Congrats to Brett, Jonathan, Jake and Wayne. As we transition from rural to urban the training has set us ready to be able to respond to both rural and urban calls. Also a massive congratulations to Brett and Jonathon for recently completing the senior fire fighter program, now onto their station officer program. Thanks to Tuck for trusting us to drive him around over the four days.

11/08/2026

Fancy getting in behind your local brigade and showing it some love?
We would love your vote for Fire Brigade of the year 🙏

West Melton Fire is undergoing a heap of change, transitioning from a rural brigade to an urban brigade to continue supporting our town as it grows and develops. We are the first brigade in NZ to go through this and has taken a huge amount of commitment and training from the team so receiving this award would be fantastic recognition ❤️ 🔥 🚒 🧑‍🚒

🔥 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

30/07/2026

🔥 🚒 🧑‍🚒

Call-out #5 25/7/26 1556: investigate smoke from log burner. (WEST9571)

23/07/2026

🔥 🚒 🧑‍🚒

Call-out #1 7/7/26 2010: Cardiac arrest. (WEST9571, ROLL427)

Call-out #2 13/7/26 0918: Smell of electrical burning. (WEST9571, ROLL427, ROLL4211, BURN917)

Call-out #3 14/7/26 1611: Car v car. (WEST9571, ROLL427, WIGR257)

Call-out #4 19/7/26 1116: smoke in forestry block. (WEST9571, KIRW727, KIRW7211)

23/07/2026

Few stats as we finish off our financial year and half way through 2026.

Our brigade responded to 90 jobs for our financial year which ended at the end of June. This is on about par with previous years.

For the first 6 months of 2026 we have responded to 34 calls for assistance. This may seem slightly down but again is on par with previous years. If predictions come true for how dry our spring and summer are going to be, we could be in for a busy 2nd half of the year.

06/07/2026

Great to have Andy recently go through his operational support training in Woolston. This is a critical role that supports and assists firefighting operations.

06/07/2026

What a week in Nelson.
We had two firefighters spend the week in Nelson going through their Senior Firefighter practical training