Crack Wanganui squad helps out in quake-hit Christchurch | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

A team of highly trained Wanganui firefighters are on the earthquake frontline in Christchurch.

The firefighters, Bryce Conybeer, Aaron Sumarhays, Ross Whetton and Brian Barkla, are part of the western North Island region Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team trained specifically for this type of disaster.

The Western region team is made up of firefighters from Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu and they have been on the ground in Christchurch since Saturday, when the devastating earthquake destroyed buildings, streets, power supplies and water mains at 4.30am.

USAR taskforce leader Bryce Conybeer said several other support people would join the team within the next few days.

"Other USAR teams from throughout the country are here too. It's a big job," Mr Conybeer said yesterday.

"Our job is to assess buildings and make them safe, so people can return as soon as possible. Fortunately, the big earthquake hit at 4.30am and not 4pm in the afternoon.

"If it had happened during the afternoon there would certainly have been fatalities. It's an incredible mess and we have USAR teams checking commercial and residential buildings. This is USAR's biggest test to date but our specialised cutting equipment makes life easier. We can cut through anything - steel, concrete - anything, really."

Mr Conybeer said there was a backlog of 300 buildings already on the books for USAR teams to assess and more were expected to come on stream.

"Fortunately, we are not looking for people trapped under rubble, we're just assessing buildings at this stage. The trouble is that the Geonet guys are predicting a large aftershock, at some stage, of at least 6 on the Richter scale, so we are being as cautious as we can as we go about our work."

Wanganui Chief Fire Officer Kevin Smith said the absence of the four USAR firefighters would leave the River City ranks depleted.

"It will certainly leave us a bit short but not dangerously so. It will certainly stretch the overtime sheets. Some of our guys will be working longer hours than usual. At this stage, the USAR guys will be in Christchurch for at least another four or five days," Mr Smith said.

However, he was happy that Wanganui firefighters were able to help out on the Christchurch earthquake frontline.

"These guys are specifically trained for this type of disaster. The USAR team trains regularly throughout the year and dealing with collapsed buildings is their speciality. They have got all the gear to cope and have their bags packed and ready to go at the drop of a hat."

Meanwhile, Wanganui District councillor Ray Stevens will launch an appeal for the victims of the quake this week.

"I don't want it to clash with the breast cancer Pink Ribbon Day on Friday. Basically, it will allow Wanganui people to donate locally. Often when money is raised on a national level it can lose its impact," Cr Stevens said.