Volunteer brigades also look for support from people who are not interested in being fire fighters.

• administration
• fire safety promotional work
• media activity
• catering
• equipment maintenance

The New Zealand Fire Service provides

• uniforms
• fire fighting clothes and equipment
• insurance cover for death and total disablement while on duty
• an annual grant towards each brigades social activities

Time from work

Many brigades receive only a few calls each year. Even for busier brigades many calls occur outside normal working hours. Once the initial training is completed most training is carried out during evenings and weekends.

Time spent away from the job can range from half an hour for a false alarm to 4-5 hours in a rare major emergency.

Most employers find considerable advantages in having people with Fire Service training on their staff - people who can fight fires, give first aid, perform CPR and keep a cool head in an emergency.

Officer training also develops leadership and management skills and experience that can be useful in the workplace.