By Rachel Tiffen
Less than 48 hours after drilling a filling, Pukehina dentist Nicky Francis was fighting the wind-licked flames of a rural scrub fire.
The 34-year-old volunteer firefighter wound up in charge of the five-hour, classroom-sized blaze at a recent Pukehina Beach Rd property. A 200sq m area - dotted with felled trees and car bodies - was burned off but no houses were damaged or lives put in danger.
Usually, husband and fellow volunteer firefighter Paul would have joined her but he was busy with his work as a surveyor in Tauranga.
So, as the most experienced person to answer the call-out, Mrs Francis took the reins. She is among 700 women involved in the volunteer fire service around New Zealand - but crews are crying out for staff.
Tauranga Chief Fire Officer Ron Devlin said there was a need for non-paid volunteers right across the Bay. "Preferably people who are available through the day and are medically and physically fit," he added.
The Pukehina volunteer fire brigade has 11 members but has funding for 16.
Fire chief Errol Watts said the squad was rarely full but relying on only 11 members was cutting it fine. He urged those interested to give him a call.
Aware that it might sound like a bit of a cliche, Mr Watts nevertheless said the volunteer fire service had a strong feeling of camaraderie and was great for self-esteem.
"And not just in a fire situation but in public. It's a really good confidence booster."
The Pukehina brigade is made up of two dairy farmers, an electrician, a butcher, a dentist, a surveyor, a bartender, a solid plasterer, a retail assistant, a processing supervisor and a contractor - and Mr Watts encouraged anyone with the drive and basic requirements to contact their nearest volunteer fire service.
Nicky and Paul Francis signed up after moving to the region four years ago and have never looked back.
"We were new to the community and thought it would be a good way to meet people - and give something back, too," said Mrs Francis.
Since rising through the ranks to obtain her three-year certificate, Mrs Francis has attended everything from medical emergencies, scrub fires and fatalities to flood-devastated Matata and a duckling stuck down a well.
Volunteers are also involved in school education programmes on fire safety and prevention. Job satisfaction went hand-in-hand with firefighting.
Mrs Francis' most rewarding call-out was to Matata's floods.
"Just seeing the strength and resilience of the people and how the community came together," she said, blue eyes shining.
Mr Watts agreed: "We went down there and worked really hard and came away feeling the best we've ever had about our work."
And last week at the Pukehina Beach scrub fire, Mrs Francis took the helm - delegating firefighters to specific tasks such as running hoses and manning pumps.
"If you're in charge you're usually in the driver's seat, doing the radio messaging and responsible for people on the ground," she explained. "I was running hoses and doing everything."
Nicky warms to firefighter role
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