Pirongia Fire Chief Roan Gouws was thrilled when he was told to make room in the station garage.
It was so he could park a Mitsubishi Triton utility donated by Waipā Networks to improve the volunteer brigade’s ability to respond to emergencies.
The ute, presented last week by chief executive Sean Horgan, is a former Waipā Networks fleet vehicle.
“We kicked off a fundraising campaign in February this year to get a new emergency vehicle and to have the network jump in and do what they have done for us is just amazing,” Gouws said.
“The target we had set was $90,000, and when everyone out there is doing it tough, we knew it was a big ask.
“This ute will make an enormous difference and improve our ability to protect and serve our growing Pirongia community. We’re grateful to Waipā Networks for their generosity and ongoing support for our brigade and our community members. This will have a massive impact.”
Pirongia’s population growth and the rise in the number of fire calls have made the donation timely. – the 25-strong brigade responds to 90 to 100 fire calls each year.
Callouts can range from structural and scrub fires to road crashes, medical emergencies and natural disasters, including landslides, flooding, and fallen trees.
It is the second time Waipā Networks has supported emergency services recently. In August last year the company partnered with other funders to provide funding to the Kawhia Volunteer Fire Brigade for a new emergency response utility vehicle.
Pirongia Fire Brigade’s new ute will be fully equipped with firefighting and rescue gear and will give firefighters access to reach difficult terrain and remote locations inaccessible by larger fire trucks.
Waipa Networks hands over ex fleet vehicle to Pirongia Fire Brigade. Photo: Supplied
