Dunstan Volunteer Fire Brigade celebrates new station

Caption: Central Otago district Mayor, Tim Cadogan, Fire and Emergency board member, Belinda Clark, Internal Affairs Minister Hon. Barbara Edmonds and Iwi representative, Darren Rewi cut the ribbon to officially open the new Dunstan Fire Station.

Members and supporters of the Dunstan Fire Brigade gathered earlier this month to celebrate the official opening of their new station in Alexandra.

Internal Affairs Minister Hon. Barbara Edmonds was in town to officially open the $2.85 million station.

The purpose-built station, which is the brigade’s first, has four truck bays, a dedicated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gear room, specialised firefighting equipment washdown areas, laundry facilities, fit for purpose showers, toilets, office space, a kitchen and training room.

The Dunstan Volunteer Fire Brigade formed in 1998, and now has 23 members who respond to rural incidents across the Otago region.

They play an essential role specialising in vegetation firefighting and providing tanker support and attends an average of 51 incidents a year.

The $2.85 million for the new station, including the site purchase and demolition, was funded by Fire and Emergency and a $340,000 contribution from Central Otago District Council.

The station has been constructed to importance level four (IL4 standard), which is the highest level of seismic strength for public buildings that must be able to operate immediately after an earthquake.

Check out the video of the new station(external link).