Official Opening of Wigram Station
31 August 2018
Today, the Internal Affairs Minister, Tracey Martin officially opened a new $7.4 million fire station in Wigram, Christchurch.
"The Wigram Fire Station will provide a safe, modern and secure working environment for Fire and Emergency personnel, and has also been designed to meet the future needs of the Christchurch community, says Dave Stackhouse, Fire and Emergency’s Area Commander for Christchurch.
"The new station is equipped to deal with major events, including self-sufficient water storage, an on-site power generator and grey water holding tanks."
The Wigram Station replaces the Sockburn Fire Station as part of the relocation and rebuild following the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes.
"Fire and Emergency has provided the foundation of a great emergency service capability, one that will contribute to Christchurch’s protection and resilience for many years".
The new station is home to 28 firefighters, and they are already making good use of the purpose-built building.
"This rebuild programme represents a significant organisational investment and has provided a unique opportunity to build a future-proofed network of stations in Christchurch that meets community needs and addresses an ever-changing call type and demand".
Fire and Emergency’s Christchurch rebuild programme will see six career, one composite (career and volunteer) and three volunteer stations completed in the redevelopment of the metropolitan city’s entire network of fire stations.
Local MP for the Wigram electorate Megan Woods, MP for Port Hills Ruth Dyson, and Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board Chair Hon Paul Swain also attended.
Wigram is the second station to be completed and opened in the Christchurch area.
Ends
Further information:
-Sockburn Station first opened in 1956 in its original location on Blenheim Road, before relocating to the former Royal NZ Air Force Wigram Station in 1997.
-In 2017, firefighters in Wigram Station responded to 1526 incidents in their area.