The Star: January 11, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
15
Thursday January 11 2018
Local
News
Now
Fire rages, homes at risk
once you get on it’s hard to get off’
You must have attended a few
crashes over the years? What is
it like to turn out to those?
I would hate to say how many
road accidents I have been to.
You get hardened to them but
they sort of stick with you.
Any that stand out in your
mind?
I wouldn’t want to single any
out. They are all bad. You brace
yourself for the worst scenario
when you are heading there. It is
easier to ramp down than up.
So what paid the bills in
between catching arsonists and
putting out blazes?
I spent 24-and-a-half years
working for Fulton Hogan in
Central Otago in the transport
and cartage division before I
moved to Canterbury in 1988.
Then I was the freight manager
for Maxwell Brothers for a few
years before starting my own
agricultural spraying business in
1994. I sold that about three years
ago now and I am semi-retired.
Semi-retired?
Well, I am now paid by the
Fire Service to drive new fire
trucks from Wellington to their
destination anywhere in the top
of the South Island. There are
not many weeks where I am not
driving a big red truck around.
What else do you do for the
Fire Service?
I have been involved in a
number of competitions in the
fire brigade, including 22 years
as an official. There are four
different divisions they compete
in – waterways, road crash
rescue, driving, and the combat
challenge. I also represented
the United Fire Brigades’
Association and was the chair
of the Mid-Canterbury subassociation
and the Canterbury
Provincial Association. I am also
a life member of both of those
organisations.
Outside of the service, what
do you get up to?
I used to be into speedway
racing when I was in Central
Otago. I raced TQ (threequarter)
midget cars. I actually
hold the record for the fastest
FAST AND SLOW: Steve McLennan at speed in a TQ midget car at Waitati Speedway, and standing in front of one of the trucks
he drove in 1966.
four laps and fastest six laps at
Waitati Speedway, which was
closed down in the late 70s.
They can’t take that from me.
I had a bit of a go in Ellesmere for
a couple of years but the business
took priority and I gave that away
about two years ago. We get out
and watch it when we can.
So tell me about your family?
I am married to my lovely
wife Wendy, who has stuck with
me through the 30-odd years of
me in the service. She has put
a few dinners back in the oven
while I chase flames. We have
been married for 43 years. We
have two grown-up children.
My daughter, Jody Phillipson, is
married with two children and
works in the travel industry. My
son, Dave McLennan, is a talent
scout for the Crusaders.
Hold on. Your son works for
the Crusaders, but you are from
Central Otago – how does that
work?
It makes for short phone calls
when we play each other and one
comes out on top. I don’t get any
hand-me-down clothes from the
Crusaders either.
Would you want a Crusaders
jersey?
RESPONSIBILITY: The Lincoln brigade was tasked with
fighting a fire in the lift well of the CTV Building after the
February 22, 2011, earthquake. The volunteers also spent
time loading helicopters with water and battling the blaze on
Worsleys Spur during the Port Hills fire.
No.
What is the season looking
like for fires?
She is a bit dry out there. It
will be a funny one. The spring
rain has boosted the fuel sitting
around with plenty of grass
growth throughout the region.
But the frustrating thing is people
don’t take notice of what they are
told. Some are burning rubbish in
no fire season. It is a no-brainer.
What do you say to those
people?
All you can do is extinguish
the fire, take their details and
leave it to the Fire Service. Some
people you would like to throw
everything at them, but you have
to show professionalism. It is
easier to shake your head and say
nothing sometimes.
I can feel the frustration. So
any big plans for the year?
The plan is to go whitebaiting
as Wendy and I both love it. We
have been going to more subdued
spots for the past three years after
Wendy got swept out to sea near
the Rakaia River mouth. Luckily
she was washed back into shore
by the breakers but it was pretty
scary. I love whitebait, but I love
my wife more.
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