PART II--REINFORCEMENT AT SERIOUS FIRES

7. It is in almost all cases uneconomic and unnecessary for provision
   to be made for the maintenance within the district of sufficient men
   and appliances for dealing with the most severe outbreak of fire which
   might occur. The Council therefore directs that each Urban Fire
   Authority, if it is itself unable to provide all the necessary appliances,
   shall, where practicable, make agreements with the Urban Fire Authorities
   of adjacent districts for the reinforcement of and by the respective
   brigades at serious fires so that sufficient supporting appliances may be
   available to comply with the basis suggested under Part II of the
   Council’s Code of Practices.

8. The Council recommends that, since this service is likely to be
   reciprocal and required only infrequently, no charge should be made
   between Authorities for mutual assistance services. Exceptions to this
   practice will be necessary:

(i) Where assistance for a particular fire is required in excess of
that laid down in the Code of Practices.

(ii) Where it is necessary to seek the assistance of more distant
brigades to meet the requirements of the Code of Practices,
or of a particular fire.

(iii) Where mutual agreements are not practicable because of the
isolation of a particular district.

In these cases the Council recommends the payment of appropriate
attendance charges as prescribed by the Fire Services Regulations 1954.

PART III--OPERATIONS AT EMERGENCY FIRES

9. A carefully planned organization is essential for successful operation
   in emergency and the actual planning and operation of this part of the
   scheme will require constant review. It is intended, therefore, to advise
   Urban Fire Authorities individually of the response expected from their
   brigades on emergency fire call after consultation with local brigade
   officers. The necessary instructions will be issued by the Chief Fire
   Service Officer under section 16 (2) of the Act, and the Authority
   may refer to the Council any objections taken to the operation of this
   part of the scheme as affecting its district. Subject to this right of
   appeal the Council directs that Urban Fire Authorities shall make
   available, upon request by a Regional Officer, plant, equipment, and
   manpower up to the limit accepted by the Urban Fire Authorities.
   The standard manning of each appliance responding to an emergency
   call will be an officer or sub-officer and five men. The officer-in-charge
   of any brigade called on for assistance will immediately notify the
   Regional Officer if it is unable to supply its allotted quota of men,
   appliances, and equipment, so that alternative provision may be made
   if standby duty is required. No volunteer brigade will, except in time
   of war, be called on for continuous service exceeding twenty-four hours,
   save at the brigade’s option. Charges that may be made for attendance
   at Emergency fires will be those prescribed by the Fire Services
   Regulations 1954.

10. The emergency contemplated by the Act is the existence or
    threat of one or more fires arising from enemy action, earthquake,
    major explosion, or forest fire which cannot be controlled by the local
    service even when reinforced under the supporting arrangements
    required under Part II above. Long continued operation or standby
    duty in a threatened area may be necessary. The officers responsible
    for the control of operations at the scene may be so heavily engaged
    that the assembly of further reinforcements may be impracticable from
    within the emergency area, particularly as the normal system of communications
    may break down in an emergency or become overloaded.
    The Chief Fire Officers in the following towns are hereby appointed
    Regional Officers for the purposes of this part of the scheme:

Whangarei.
Auckland.
Hamilton.
Rotorua.
Gisborne.
New Plymouth.
Palmerston North.
Napier.
Wellington.
Masterton.
Nelson.
Greymouth.
Christchurch.
Timaru.
Dunedin.
Invercargill.

In the event of an emergency arising the brigade officer in charge
in the emergency area will immediately notify the nearest mobilization
centre with which communication can be established of the nature of
the emergency, the number of appliances and any special equipment
or personnel required, and the place at which reinforcements are to
report. It will be the responsibility of the officer in charge at the
mobilization centre to arrange with the brigades conveniently located
to send forward the plant, equipment, and men required at the scene
of emergency and to replace appliances in towns denuded. He will
detail a suitable officer to proceed with all despatch to the reporting
point in an emergency area and to act for liaison purposes between