HVFP were requested at the scene of a K99 (well involved) House fire in Naenae early in the evening of Wednesday 18 November. Members of the Unit assisted with scene security until the property owner returned home and was able to secure their property.

One of the most substantial house fires in recent memory struck in Lower Hutt Central in the wee hours of this morning. Upgraded to Third Alarm in short order, the property (which was undergoing substantial renovation) was entirely engulfed - and gutted - by fire, and several other properties suffered substantial exposure damage (in effect, at least 5 houses were severely damaged). Only a block away from the Queensgate Mall, Fire Appliances remain in attendance, ensuring the fire is completely out.

Frontage of the main property, along with exposed neighbours - the scale of the damage can clearly be seen by the light of the Hutt Fire Police lighting plant.

Hutt Valley Fire Police provided road closures, lighting and light refreshments to crews from across the region who attended. This call was the first operational use of our new lighting capability, and established it as a powerful and yet flexible setup.

This new lighting capability would not have been possible without the generous support and assistance of a number of organisations. The Unit would like to offer a special thanks to Brett Millns, Director of Total Telecommunications Ltd for his support in loaning the HVFP unit the stands and bases that are being used to to support the lights. A thank you also to the Upper Hutt Rural Fire Force for the loan of two portable generators and to SPEL for their work in refurbishing the flood lights that are currently in use. Their support has proven that the new model for the HVFP lighting capability is the correct model.

A Second Alarm was transmitted for a multiple-calls shop fire in Naenae round 7pm on Friday night. Members in attendance helped with traffic control and scene security.

The following image was captured by one of our attending members (links to a full res version @twitpic.com)

The Paekakariki Hill Road is an interesting piece of terrain, being frequently narrow, steep and twisty as it works its way between Paekakariki (North of Wellington) and Pauatahanui, east of Porirua. A scrub fire in a hard-to-reach area near the summit of the Hill caused a Second Alarm to be transmitted, and the location of the call had assets from all over the region responded.

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Hutt Valley Fire Police were paged to implement a road closure at the intersection of Paekakariki Road and Greys Road, shortly after midnight on the morning of Sunday 8 November. We supplemented the roading contractors until being released around 0130.

Attendees at this event included our colleagues from Paraparaumu Fire Police (on the northern road closure), and Firefighters from Paekakariki, Paraparaumu, Te Horo VRFF, Porirua, Wellington City, Wellington VRFF, Upper Hutt VRFF and more. Operations were wound down at 0200 with a standby crew on guard overnight, due to access difficulties and weather conditions little more could be done at the time. Firefighters returned as daylight returned, to verify the fire was out and that there was no further threat to life or property.

Members of the Unit were responded as part of the Second Alarm response to the Downer EDI facility in Taita in the wee hours of this morning. Members assisted with road closures and scene safety, whilst Firefighters dealt with the blaze.

Members of HVFP in attendance.

Members were paged to assist with a second alarm Sulphur fire at the Shell plant in Seaview, Thursday 15th of October. Members in the area responded and provided traffic control assistance.

FP Scott conducting traffic control. Image courtesy FP Key.

The Command Unit (WELL2114) and other apliances in attendance. Image courtesy FP Key.

Members responded to a reported Explosion at the Haywards Substation at approximately midday today. The Haywards site is a major one for the Power Companies and the potential for danger at this location is not small.
Unit members provided cordons whilst Fire Crews and Transpower worked to isolate the electricity and put out the fire, which was reportedly caused by an electrical fault.

A HVFP cordon at the main entrance to the Haywards Substation.

There may be more imagery to come - stay tuned.

RIMU4926 and members of the Unit responded to a Second Alarm fire in a block of flats on Cambridge Terrace, Epuni, at around 5:30pm Friday 11 September. Members were engaged in providing assistance with traffic control as the fire was dealt with by crews from Hutt, Seaview and Avalon stations.

RIMU4926 and 4928 responded as part of the second alarm response to a house fire in Belmont this morning. Fortunately the fire was caught quickly and the second alarm appliances were stood down - the message getting to our vehicles just as they were arriving on scene.

The evening of 7 August 2009 saw a second alarm transmitted for a fire at the old Petone Memorial College. Some further detail to follow - but here's a photo from FP Bruce Key: