The Helensville Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed at the Helensville Town Board meeting on October 9th 1914. The Town Board had previously called for volunteers and at this meeting the Robinson brothers and three others were appointed as the Brigade with powers to accept others.
The formation of a fire brigade at this early date was the culmination of several factors. Helensville at the time as a relatively large town built out of wood (high fire risk) and it was growing. It was a busy port for both inland services to Doraville and the other towns on the Kaipara harbour and for the export of mainly timber overseas. It was also a milling town and a railway depot. The growth of the town had enabled the Town Board to borrow money and put in a sewerage and water supply system. This was finished in 1913. The system of water mains through the town with fire hydrants enabled firefighting without the need for water pumps. Fires could be fought by fixing a standpipe to the hydrant, running out lengths of canvas hose with a brass branch on the end and turning the standpipe on. Finally in early 1914 the Town Board was offered at a very cheap price a second hand, hand drawn, hose reel complete with hose, standpipes and branches.
So all that was need now was volunteers and a brigade could be formed. The Helensville Volunteer Fire Brigade went through its ups and downs. There were disputes with the Town Board, personality clashes, arsonists, mass resignations and law suits for damages. However the brigade persisted and this year will celebrate soon 100 years of unpaid service to the community of Helensville and surrounding area.