Meet your fire fighters
Brad Aldridge
Our newest firefighter is Brad Aldridge who completed the 7 day firefighter training course in Rotorua in August. The course tested the skills learned in the 9 months intensive training here in Martinborough Brigade. Brad is now fully certified to wear breathing apparatus and enter a burning structure with an experienced partner.
Raised in Whitby, Brad went to college in Upper Hutt and spent weekends on his Dad’s sheep and cattle farm out in Ruakokoputuna. After school he started work as a builder’s helper and is currently completing his apprenticeship.
A keen rugby player, he had to switch from the local team to Gladstone (who make the finals this year) as Martinborough trains on the same night as the Brigade training. Racing dirt bikes is another hobby but of real interest is his love of endurance horse racing. He belongs to the Wairarapa Club and competes on 40 to 160 k races on his Arab at regional and national events.
He is new to the Brigade but already has been on the truck at several callouts. An early experience was some hard work at a vegetation fire, being the first crew on scene of what turned out to be a multi alarm callout. Hot, hard work with hose down a bank, through the bush is no problem for this lad.
He says it was firefighters Chantelle Struthers and Lisa-Marie Ireland who kept at him to join. He finally came along to practice once and was hooked. Brad says it is about being part of a team and helping the community.
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