Te Aroha Volunteer Fire Brigade

07/08/2026

Call out #160 - 2/8 5:19pm
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377, TEAR3711, MORR361, MORR3611, TAHU351
Shed Fire. Crews were alerted to reports of a shed fire. Upon arrival, crews found it was a controlled burn-off.

Call out #161 - 3/8 7:47am
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377, MORR361
Alarm Activation

Call out #162 - 4/8 8:42pm
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377, TEAR3711, PAER511, PAER517, PAER5111, HAMI4118, TERA431, HAMI411, ACWAIKA04
Smoke Showing. The call was upgraded to a Hazardous Substances Second Alarm.

Call out #163 - 5/8 7:40am
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377
Alarm Activation

Call out #164 - 5/8 9:13pm
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377
Medical

Call out #165 - 6/8 8:04am
🚒 TEAR371
Medical

Call out #166 - 7/8 1:42am
🚒 TEAR371
Rubbish Fire

04/08/2026

July was another steady month for the brigade, with 19 callouts keeping our volunteers busy. Throughout the month, we also worked alongside our neighbouring brigades from Paeroa and Morrinsville on a number of incidents. That brings our current total calls for 2026 to 160.

Call out #141 - 1/7 6:56am
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377
Commercial Alarm Activation

Call out #142 - 1/7 9:30am
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377
Commercial Alarm Activation

Call out #143 - 3/7 5:51am
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377, TEAR3711, MORR361
Ammonia Alarm Activation

Call out #144 - 5/7 3:33pm
🚒 TEAR371
Medical

Call out #145 - 7/7 4:30pm
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377
Medical

Call out #146 - 7/7 9:39pm
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377
Commercial Alarm Activation

Call out #147 - 9/7 1:20pm
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377
Commercial Alarm Activation

Call out #148 - 10/7 8:10Pm
🚒 TEAR371
Fire In Vicinity

Call out #149 - 11/7 7:25am
🚒 TEAR377, TEAR371
Motor Vehicle Crash

Call out #150 - 14/7 8:42pm
🚒 TEAR377, TEAR371, TEAR3711
Commercial Alarm Activation

Call out #151 - 15/7 4:36am
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377, TEAR3711, MORR361
Commercial Alarm Activation

Call out #152 - 15/7 8:53am
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR3711, MATA381, MATA387, MATA3811
Kitchen Fire Assist Matamata Stood Down In Route

Call out #153 - 15/7 5:49pm
🚒 TEAR371
Private alarm Activation

Call out #154 - 18/7 5:01pm
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR3711, TEAR377, MORR361
Commercial Alarm Activation

Call out #155 - 21/7 7:08am
🚒 TEAR371
Medical

Call out #156 - 26/7 9:19pm
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377, TEAR3726, PAER511, MORR361, ACWAIKA07
2nd Alarm House Fire

Call out #157 - 30/7 2:29pm
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377
Sprinkler Activation

Call out #158 - 31/7 2:59am
🚒 TEAR371, TAHU351, TAHU3533, MORR361
Alarm Activation

Call out #159 - 31/7 10:19am
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377
Commercial Alarm Activation

29/07/2026

A reminder as we see temperatures drop below freezing to keep our homes safe as we try to stay warm.

Keep the area around your fireplace and heater clear of furniture, firewood, newspapers and other combustible items.

Hot ashes can stay hot for days, even when they look cold. Always place ashes into a metal bucket with a lid and store it well away from your home, deck, fences, and anything that can burn.

Make sure your smoke alarms are working.

A warm home is a great place to be this winter, let's keep it a safe one too.

26/07/2026

Call out #156 - 26/7 9:19pm
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377, TEAR3726, PAER511, MORR361, ACWAIKA07
2nd Alarm House Fire

25/07/2026

Ever wondered why our fire siren still goes off?

All hours of the day and night… it’s still one of the most reliable ways to make sure our volunteers know they’re needed right now.

When someone calls 111, seconds count. There are pagers, apps, calls and texts - but tech isn’t perfect. Coverage drops, messages lag, things fail. The siren is the one backup that doesn’t.

And yes, it’s loud. Yes, it might cut into your day or wake you up. We totally understand.

But when that siren breaks through the noise or the quiet still of the night think about what’s happening in that very moment: someone nearby might be facing one of the worst moments of their life, and our firefighters are dropping dinner, stepping away from work, getting out of bed, or pausing family time to respond.

That sound means your community is on the move and helping each other.

If you want to be part of the response team when the siren drops, come on down and meet the crew, it could be you!

23/07/2026

A step forward in the fight to get appropriate ACC cover for our volunteer firefighters!

The bill was lodged by Labour's Kieran McAnulty who said volunteer firefighters face traumatic and dangerous working conditions.

22/07/2026

Call out #153 - 15/7 5:49pm
🚒 TEAR371
Private alarm Activation

Call out #154 - 18/7 5:01pm
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR3711, TEAR377, MORR361
Commercial Alarm Activation

Call out #155 - 21/7 7:08am
🚒 TEAR371
Medical

19/07/2026

It is with great sadness that Te Aroha Volunteer Fire Brigade acknowledges the passing of Matthew Liddle.

Matthew has served as a member of Te Aroha Volunteer Fire Brigade and will be remembered for his kindness, dedication, and commitment to serving our community. Through both his time with our brigade and his work with Hato Hone St John, Matthew touched the lives of many with his compassion, professionalism, and genuine care for others.

Our heartfelt condolences are with his wife Danielle, their son Louie, his parents Rex and Maggie, sister Sydnie, extended family, and friends, and everyone whose lives were enriched by knowing him. Our thoughts are with you all in this incredibly difficult time of such immense grief.

We also acknowledge the profound loss felt by our Hato Hone St John - Te Aroha and Hato Hone St John colleagues and thank them for the care and support they continue to provide to our community during this difficult time.

A celebration of Matthew's life will be held at Whangamatā Hall, 326 Port Road, Whangamatā, on Friday 24 July at 11.00am, followed by interment at Whangamatā Cemetery. Communications to Danielle: [email protected] or Maggie: [email protected]

For those who wish to support Matthew's family, there is a link to the Givealittle page in the comments.

Rest easy, Matthew. Thank you for your service to our community. You will be remembered and deeply missed.

15/07/2026

Call out #150 - 14/7 8:42pm
🚒 TEAR377, TEAR371, TEAR3711
Commercial Alarm Activation

Call out #151 - 15/7 4:36am
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR377, TEAR3711, MORR361
Commercial Alarm Activation

Call out #152 - 15/7 8:53am
🚒 TEAR371, TEAR3711, MATA381, MATA387, MATA3811
Kitchen Fire Assist Matamata Stood Down In Route

13/07/2026

"I’ll just go out the back door." "I think I could climb out my bedroom window."

If that's the extent of your escape plan, you're not prepared.

Fire spreads fast, and in a fire every second counts. The best way to protect yourself and your whanau is to have a well-thought-out escape plan before you ever need it.
When creating your plan, consider the following:

🚸 Who needs assistance?
• Do you have children?
• Do you live with people who need assistance?
• Can they get out on their own?
• If not, who is responsible for getting them out?

🐾 Do you have pets?
• Who will be responsible for getting your pets out safely?

🚪 Know your escape routes
• Identify all reliable ways out of your home.
• Check that exits, hallways, and windows are clear of obstacles.
• Make sure keys are easily accessible if needed to unlock k doors.
• If you live in a multi-storey home, ensure smoke alarms are installed and working—your first line of defence in detecting a fire early.

📍 Choose a meeting place
• Decide on a safe meeting point outside your home.
• Make sure everyone knows where it is.
• Once there, you can quickly confirm that everyone is out safely.

❌ Never go back inside

Once you're out, stay out. Fires can grow and change rapidly, and conditions inside can become unsurvivable in moments.

A fire escape plan takes only a few minutes to make, but it could save lives when every second matters. https://www.fireandemergency.nz/home-fire-safety/3-step-escape-plan/