I recently had a quick catch-up with Andy Dalrymple, a volunteer firefighter here in Dunedin. He is one of our unsung local heroes.

New Zealand has 11,500 unpaid firefighters, one of the highest numbers per capita of any country in the world and they save the taxpayer around $659 million per year.

The fire brigade is a visible part of our community and an incredible way to contribute in a positive way.

We all rely on volunteers like Andy, they help communities prevent, prepare, respond, and recover from all types of emergencies. As well as firefighting, volunteers attend medical incidents, motor vehicle accidents, severe weather events, and other requests for help.

If you’re a team player, would like to learn new skills and make your community safer, get more info here.