A Wildfire at Heart
Fascinating, Terrifying and Thrilling all at once…
Hi, I’m Marty Bennetts. I’m the Deputy Controller at Pines Beach Brigade. I look after the crew on the fireground. I also make fire retardant and play with aeroplanes. I LOVE what I do. The wee man in the picture is Liam one of my proud grandsons.
This photo was taken just before I headed off to a fire at Pines Beach, in my typical setup. I’m remarkably clean here which isn’t always the case afterwards. Some days it is hard to tell where the uniform ends, and the skin starts. Firefighting is a dirty, hot and exhausting job but one I will continue to enjoy and choose again at the drop of a hat.
For the last twenty-four years I have been a student of fire, not only due to my strange fascination of fire but out of respect and acknowledgment that it is one of the most potent and uncontrollable forces on the planet. It is fascinating to understand, its consequences far reaching and at times unpredictable with its management is dangerous. But that’s what I find fascinating, terrifying and thrilling all at once.
To say that I enjoy what I do would be an understatement, but knowing the need for such an important service for our community with over eighty percent of wildfires originating from human beings. It’s a huge responsibility to play a part in, fires are getting bigger, hotter and moving faster than ever before, costing huge sums of money and technology to control.
On a social note, serving the community of Pines/Kairaki Beach as a member of their Wildfire Brigade has been to this day an ever changing, challenging and rewarding experience. I have never met such an interesting and diverse group of people of which I am proud to be associated. We are the salt of the earth folk from all callings, women and men devoted to the protection of homes and communities wherever fire is a threat.
We are proud of who we are and I am proud to be a member amongst them. If you were looking for a rewarding career or organisation to volunteer with, I would recommend the Wildfire brigade all day long.
Wave out if you spot me in the Yellow Truck and be careful… Summer is coming.
Written by
Marty Bennetts
