Swannanoa Volunteer Fire Brigade

14/05/2026

Gidday Fabulous Locals!!

Do you know peeps or family in Rangiora??
Our neighbours, Rangiora Volunteer Fire Brigade are on the lookout for new members. Availability during daytime hours would be a huge bonus.

Give it a go!! Unbeliveably rewarding way to volunteer and a great group of like-minded awesome folks in the Rangiora Brigade.

Reach out folks - you won't regret it!

22/04/2026

Gidday fabulous Locals!!

Last chance this year to get that firewood sorted for the cooler months ahead.

Get in touch - start warm, get some quality pine and donate to our Brigade in one easy phone call!!

Oh, and clean that chimney while you’re at it!!

Gidday Fabulous Locals!!

Quick reminder about this awesome offer & opportunity!!

Once again, one of our members is selling Old Man Pine to the community and with every purchase, he will donate to the Brigade. An awesome way for you all to stay warm and support an amazing cause (us!) at the same time.

$300 for 3 cubic metres, delivered (in the local area, as far as Kaiapoi, Rangiora and Cust.

Phone 027 5312304, get the order in and you'll be set for winter.
Thanks to everyone who takes this up - a great way for the Brigade to get some bonus donations!

Cheers all!!

21/04/2026

Gidday Fabulous Locals!!

Exciting news at your local Brigade.

Last night, Assist Commanders Des Irving & Brian Keown attended our parade to present the Chief Fire Officer’s helmet to our new CFO, Scotty Herbert.

“It’s an exciting time for our Brigade & I’m honoured to take on the CFO position. We have an amazing team of volunteers here and I look forward to working with them all, as well as the wider FENZ family as we continue to serve our growing community”

Since Peter Anderson stepped down due leaving the area (and the country!!), DCFO Scott Pilkington has filled the role and will continue to work with Scotty.
Both are very excited & enthusiastic about our future. The Brigade is in an excellent place with a full roster and amazing local people, ready to serve our fabulous community!! (Yes we’re biased 😇)

Quick question, discussed or practised your evacuation plan & safe meeting point with the family recently - asking for a friend 😉

30/03/2026

Gidday fabulous locals!!!

We’re in need of an old car that we could use for training. Ideally still going but not a requirement. No WoF/Rego is fine.

What we’re ideally after is something that is intact (windows/doors) and we can arrange transport if necessary.

Of anyone has something they would be willing to donate to us please get in touch.

This will help us with planning and practise for accidents and events which we hope we don’t have to attend but we will!!

25/03/2026

Gidday Fabulous Locals!!

Quick reminder about this awesome offer & opportunity!!

Once again, one of our members is selling Old Man Pine to the community and with every purchase, he will donate to the Brigade. An awesome way for you all to stay warm and support an amazing cause (us!) at the same time.

$300 for 3 cubic metres, delivered (in the local area, as far as Kaiapoi, Rangiora and Cust.

Phone 027 5312304, get the order in and you'll be set for winter.
Thanks to everyone who takes this up - a great way for the Brigade to get some bonus donations!

Cheers all!!

12/03/2026

Gidday fabulous locals!!!

Another awesomely proud day for Swannanoa VFB!

This morning, FF Stacey Curry and FF Cole Gillman graduated from the 7 day Recruit course at FENZ Woolston Training Centre.

A huge amount of prep goes into this course from both Fire Fighters, but also the training team at our Brigade.

Both Stace & Cole are now Fire Fighters and ready to serve our awesome community when the need arises.
We are super proud of you both guys, an amazing commitment to get through this course!!

Stay safe everyone - had that chimney cleaned yet?? Asking for a friend….😇

27/02/2026

Gidday Fabulous Locals!!

Once again, one of our members is selling Old Man Pine to the community and with every purchase, he will donate to the Brigade. An awesome way for you all to stay warm and support an amazing cause (us!) at the same time.

$300 for 3 cubic metres, delivered (in the local area, as far as Kaiapoi, Rangiora and Cust.

Phone 027 5312304, get the order in and you'll be set for winter.
Thanks to everyone who takes this up - a great way for the Brigade to get some bonus donations!

Cheers all!!

25/02/2026

Gidday Fabulous Locals!!

How's this summer going?? (pretty good for us, I must say!!)

Come visit us at the Swannanoa Country Fair this Sun 1st March from 1000.
We'll be there as usual, with plenty of Firees avail to answer any fire safety questions, show you through our trucks and equipment, and we'll show you what NOT TO DO, in a kitchen oil fire situation!!

The forecast looks ok, come down and say hi - we'd love to see you!!

03/02/2026

Gidday Fabulous Locals!!

After last weeks stink news about losing a couple of highly valued members, I have some great news!!

We’re really pleased to welcome 2 new members to our Brigade.

Last week Phil Hawke and Stacey Curry both joined us as members of the Brigade. Both have been with us for 6 months, training hard & turning out with us to various jobs including fires, vehicle accidents & Stacey has also attended a serious medical event.
Both have really stepped up into their roles with huge enthusiasm.

Phil has joined as our Ops Support man, a critical role which ensures our trucks and equipment are ready to go 24/7.
Stacey is a recruit Fire Fighter, and in March will complete the 7 day recruit course at the FENZ training facility in Woolston.

Thank you both for your enthusiasm and professional attitudes. And thank you both for volunteering to our awesome community!!

30/01/2026

Gidday Fabulous Locals!!

Few mixed emotions around the team this week as 2 of our team have left the Brigade.

QFF Casey Herbert spent 5 years with us and excelled at everything she came up against. Never a backward step, first to volunteer and always with a huge smile on her face. Casey is moving out of the area but hopes one day to don the uniform again, as a career Fire Fighter with FENZ.

SFF Pete Harris was with the Brigade for 13 years - given we’re only 15 years in existence, that’s a massive part of our short history. Pete was an integral member with huge experience and knowledge which was always offered to anyone. A driver and Senior FF, Pete was also responsible for our weekly & monthly checks to ensure we’re good to go. He’ll leave a big hole in the team but the airlines will be thrilled that he’s got even more time to travel!! (is that even possible??)

“Cassie” & Pete - We’ll miss you both but we are so grateful for your service to our fabulous community and our awesome little team.