Monday, 5 August 1957, at 6.30pm, was the date and time Rex Cotter, 85, a volunteer firefighter, started his 60 years of service.

“I did 30 years in Tīrau, and I’ve just done 30 years in Pāpāmoa,” said Cotter.

As a kid, Cotter lived on the corner of State Highways One, Five, and 27 in Tīrau, and he recalls the first time he encountered a fire.

“There was a fire where everybody originally exited the house.”

“And the house’s owner, for some reason, returned to get something.”

“We don’t know whether it was a pet or some item or he wanted a photo or whatever.”

“He never came out.”

There was no fire service in Tīrau at the time, so his father, a butcher, called a town meeting and asked the community if they wanted and needed a volunteer fire brigade.

“The outcome of that was, yes, we certainly do,” said Cotter.

He joined the volunteer service at 18, vividly recalling the first day he joined to be a firefighter.

“After, I went through the process of growing up and being a fireman.”

“I progressed from being a cadet fireman through to being the Chief Fire Officer.”

Before resigning, he was the Chief Fire Officer in Tiaru for 13 years, one of the youngest in the country at the time. He joined the Pāpāmoa brigade seven years after leaving Tīrau.

At Tīrau, they built their own fire engine with only a one-inch air pump and a little water tank, which was sufficient. Not long after, the brigade purchased a standard fire trailer.

“Then we had this lovely little pump that pumped much more water.”

“That really got us going.”

There was little money for the fire service then, as the council and the larger municipalities ran it in bigger cities, such as Auckland.

“So we fundraised and all the usual things.”

According to Cotter, motor vehicle collisions were the main reason for the fire service’s callouts in Tīrau.

“Some horrific ones, buses and things involving lots of people being injured.”

He recalled attending a fire at the Wairoa Dairy Factory, where they battled a blaze for days.

“It was just a huge fire. That was one of the biggest ones we ever saw.”

He would fly worldwide, visiting various fire departments and participating in the World Fire Fighter Games.

“I got a gold medal in Canada.”

“That was for swimming, in my age group.”

Despite living in different countries with very different fire conditions, he was welcomed into various fire halls worldwide.

“In Alaska, they had an amazing collection of fire brigade memorabilia, fire trucks and huge laser.”

Cotter always encourages people to join the volunteer fire brigade but stressed that it does not matter whether you are a permanent firefighter or volunteering.

“A fire’s a fire.”

“If you’re not trained and you’re not capable of using the equipment to the best of its ability, well, you’re not doing the job.

“We do a lot of training.”

A pathway towards becoming a permanent firefighter exists for those wanting to pursue a full-time position.

A lot of people do that, and vice versa. People who have been in permanent fire brigades just come out and join the volunteers.

The evolution of firefighter technology impressed Cotter, and they said things like the new breathing apparatus and portable defibrillators had been lifesavers.

“We fought all our fires in sheds with Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and all this other stuff.”

DDT is a banned insecticide.

“We had no breathing apparatus, just gum boots and shorts.

“It’s amazing we’re all still here.”

Although his days of getting on the truck with sirens blaring are behind him, Cotter still goes down to the Pāpāmoa brigade to help clean and tidy.

“Been there, done that. I’m the cleaning lady now.”

Cotter served alongside Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford, who served as a volunteer firefighter before his political career.

“Volunteer firefighters play a vital role in helping protect our community,” said Rutherford.

Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford. Photo / file

“As a former volunteer firefighter, I am incredibly proud of the 11,832 volunteers across New Zealand.”

“People like Rex and all our other local volunteer firefighters play an important role in helping keep our local community safe,” Rutherford said.

Fire prevention tips from Cotter

Electrical fires: turn off the electricity and leave the door shut. Baking soda will help as well.

Makeshift fire extinguisher: Shake Coca-Cola upside down and unscrew it on the fire.

Trapped in a vehicle near a power pole: Do not exit the car if there are live wires nearby, as this can result in electrocution.