Airport firefighter marks 40 years as Rescue Fire Service changes name

Murray Hart, right, with fellow Nelson Airport firefighter Alec Hampson. Alec is wearing Murray’s original uniform from 40 years ago. Photo credit: Sarah Burton/Nelson Airport

Veteran Nelson Airport firefighter Murray Hart has clocked up 40 years of service in a career that has seen significant change for the airport and its fire service.

Murray’s milestone coincides with the latest evolution of the service, which was officially renamed this week from the Rescue Fire Service to the Airport Emergency Service to better reflect its modern role.

The airport fire service began during World War II when the New Zealand Air Force was stationed at Nelson Airport. Murray was a volunteer for the Stoke Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1984 when he was shoulder-tapped to apply for a role at the airport. “Airport fire services were a nationwide, Government-run service then and I had to go to Wellington for an interview.”

After two years, Murray was made briefly redundant when Mills-Tui Trailers took over the airport firefighting contract, before being asked back just a couple of weeks later.

In the 1990s Murray and colleagues Ted Powrie and Steve Johnson successfully put a proposal to the airport company to take over the firefighting service contract. Murray, with Ted and then Steve, ran the service for the next 20-odd years, with just three firefighters sharing the shifts. “We were the last airport in the country to still have a privately-run rescue fire service.”

By 2021, with increasing health and safety requirements and a large investment required in upgrading the airport firetruck, the Nelson Airport Rescue Fire Service was brought in house by Nelson Airport Ltd.

“I have just loved the whole job and never stopped loving it,” Murray says. “It’s quite a unique job and I have always wanted to help people.”

There haven’t been any major aircraft incidents in Murray’s time at Nelson Airport – but many adventures.

“I once had to chase a Mini down the runway here. The driver was looking for the supermarket in Stoke and got very lost. She just drove through the back here and down the taxiway and onto the runway. That was 25 years ago.

“Before the security fences we used to get people just walking across the runway occasionally. I tackled someone who was on the run from the police. He started heading towards the runway and there was a plane on approach so I just jumped out of the truck and tackled him and held him until the cops arrived.”

He’s also seen significant evolution in the aircraft that visit Nelson. “When I started, the Fokker Friendships were the people carriers that flew here. I’ve also seen a lot of airlines come and go over the years.”

The Nelson Airport Emergency Service plays a crucial role in airport operations, carrying out a range of vital tasks including wildlife management, runway and apron condition checks, and assisting with medical and other emergency incidents. They carry out regular training as a team and with Fire and Emergency NZ to ensure they are always ready to respond in the event of an emergency. In 2022, a new $1.4 million airport firetruck added specialist, state of the art, airport firefighting capability to the team’s arsenal.

The team itself has grown, and now employs a complement of nine firefighters. All the airport firefighters also serve as volunteers, ensuring they have significant experience to draw on. Murray served as a Richmond and Stoke brigade volunteer for 33 years. 

He is also a regular competitor in the annual Sky Tower Firefighter Challenge, staying fit enough at age 67 to have taken out the Supreme Masters category this year in an impressive time of 13 minutes and five seconds. 

He has no immediate plans to retire.

Senior Rescue Fire Officer Matt van der Heyden says Murray’s knowledge and experience as an airport firefighter has been invaluable as the team has grown over the past few years. “He knows everything there is to know about this place and he’s an incredible example for our newer recruits of how rewarding being an airport firefighter can be.”

Matt says the new Airport Emergency Service name is a reflection of the changing role of airport firefighters. “The work we do is much broader than a “rescue” role. We work to both prevent and prepare for a wide range of emergency situations. Airport Emergency Service is also a name that aligns with those of other airport fire teams so we’re now consistent with most other airports in New Zealand.”

Murray Hart, right, with fellow Nelson Airport firefighter Alec Hampson. Alec is wearing Murray’s original uniform from 40 years ago. Photo credit: Sarah Burton/Nelson Airport