January 11, 2009

It was a serious case of deja vu for two retired Dargaville firefighters when four buildings in the town went up in flames on Monday night.
Max Jones and Gary Murdoch have long been retired from active duty in the fire service but, when four buildings in Victoria St caught fire, the pair had no hesitation in helping out the 100 or so firefighters that ended up battling the blaze.
For the pair it was a case of 'here we go again' as in 1961 they had both fought a massive fire that destroyed five buildings almost directly opposite Monday's blaze.
On Monday, Mr Jones was moving hoses, ensuring the water supply continued and giving the firefighters whatever back-up and support they needed.
He retired in 1992, but has maintained his interest and connections to the service as a volunteer and, when the call went out on Monday, he knew his help would be needed.
'I thought `here we go again' it's almost over the road from the'61 fire. That was a big fire and this one was huge too,' Mr Jones said as he surveyed the charred remains of the historic buildings.
'The adrenalin rush wasn't as high [on Monday] as it was in 1961, because I was fighting the fire then, but the feelings are just the same. It's not pleasant watching part of your town go up like that.'
But just like after that 1961 fire, Dargaville would recover, he said.
'After'61 it probably took the town three years or so to recover. This one, with the recession and everything, may take a little longer though,' Mr Jones said.
He hoped the businesses involved in the blaze _ Foster's Home Decorating and Resene Colourshop, Main Street Interiors, where the fire started, Lyndsey Bargh Physiotherapy and the Red Cross op-shop _ would all reopen as soon as possible.
Mr Jones said having the Northern Wairoa River so close to supply the water to fight Monday's fire and the fact the wind was blowing the flames towards a vacant lot, rather than other buildings, prevented the fire claiming more properties.
The sound of the blaring station siren and seeing the huge plumes of smoke on Monday took Gary Murdoch back to 1961.
'I took a look at the smoke and I knew it was a big job, like in 1961. I took off down to the station,' Mr Murdoch said.
At 72 years old, Mr Murdoch is still the the Dargaville brigade's secretary and was in charge of feeding the firefighters on Monday, as they worked through the night.
He recalled being called to the 1961 fire.
'We had been to a fire in the bookshop about 8.30pm on the Friday night. We had it under control, but it must have sparked up again because a paper boy reported it on fire again at 5.30am the next morning.'