New Zealand Fire Service and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)
Media update from Assistant National Commander Paul Baxter
7 pm Sunday 6 March 2011

USAR
• Today, teams – comprising a fire crew, fire appliance, two USAR technicians (one from Mew Zealand and one from Singapore) and a police officer – were working outside the cordon to check placarded and damaged buildings.

• Within the CBD, USAR teams continue to work on the Forsyth Barr building and carry out comprehensive secondary searches in all other CBD sites.

Fire

• We are working with surrounding rural fire authorities to support a fire ban for the next seven days. We ask that the public respects this in order to ensure vital resources remain where they are needed.

• We urge any Christchurch residents wishing to use their fireplace or log burner, to first check that it is safe to do so. If there are any safety doubts – use your common sense and call a builder to come and check it.

• The Fire Service has been assisting our staff and their families impacted by the earthquake. Many of our people, who have been continuing to front for duty, have themselves suffered significant loss. This includes 70 firefighters whose homes are damaged.

• The Fire Service family has rallied together and is providing accommodation and many other forms of assistance for our own people to support them as they continue to serve their communities. We urge these families to get in touch with us if they have any concerns.

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