The Fire Service and the Gisborne District mayor have joined in a call for more volunteer firefighters on the East Coast following the Kawakawa Hotel fire in Te Araroa.

The fire on January 7 totally destroyed the 50-year-old pub, the pride and joy of the East Coast town. Firefighters did well to limit the spread of the fire, which threatened other buildings due to radiated heat and strong winds.

Acting Eastern fire region commander Chris Nicoll says the local volunteer fire brigade did an outstanding job in difficult conditions - including a lack of reticulated water - and were ably assisted by many locals as well as other volunteer and rural fire brigades that turned out from other parts of the region.

'The public were a huge help in containing the fire and we want to acknowledge that assistance.'

'However, that can't disguise the fact that the brigade was at below half strength.'

Te Araroa township should have a brigade of 16, but there are currently only eight volunteers, and two of those were out of town on the day of the fire.

They are not the only East Coast towns operating at less than full strength. Te Puia Springs Brigade has seven members, compared with a capacity for 12, Tokomaru Bay has 12 of a possible 19 and Tolaga Bay has 17 of a possible 25.

Gisborne District mayor Meg Foon says small rural communities need to take a proactive role in the care of their towns.

'In small towns you are generally away from the infrastructure of the larger cities.'

'By joining the local volunteer fire brigade there will be full training at no cost to you, and you will learn other skills as well, which will be valuable to your family, work place and your community.'

'It only takes a few hours of your time and your camaraderie with your fellow volunteers will certainly strengthen the community.'

Mr Foon says East Coast people have a history of volunteering, be it in the marae, in the local school, or in health initiatives, so giving firefighting a go makes sense.

Mr Nicoll says the Fire Service were aware of the problem of low volunteer numbers before the Kawakawa Hotel fire and have trained six new recruits from East Coast towns in the past year.

Steps have also been taken to encourage more women to join, something that is being addressed nationally by the Fire Service.

But he says people in the East Coast communities with below-strength brigades need to take up the challenge of protecting their towns and what they value by joining the local volunteer brigade.

'The attitude of locals during the hotel fire shows there is not a of lack willingness to help out, we just need to take that willingness and turn it into more volunteer firefighters.'

'By training to fight fires like this latest one, they will minimise the risk to their community.'