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Meet Cam Kenyon

Job: 

Airport Fire Service

Job description: 

I’m a Fire Officer, looking after five guys on my shift, conducting shift training, responding to all fire calls, conducting First Aid Courses for the company on my days off.

Work background: 

13 years as a Defense Firefighter (Army), 13 years as a Volunteer Firefighter in Rolleston, 2 years as a casual trainer for the New Zealand Fire Service.

Favourite part of job: 

I enjoy helping people in need, medical or fire. I also enjoy the training side of my job, training people in correct use of fire extinguishers and first aid courses.

Least favourite part of job: 

Being away from my family on days like Christmas Day, but we are a 24/7operation, so someone has to be here on those family days.

What I am working on now: 

I am working on green shift, conducting shift training. Also preparing for more First Aid courses for the Airport campus tenants and some flight attendants.

A quick story about a job well done: 

I have travelled with my previous role as a Fire Trainer at the Airport Fire Service. Part of this training included me travelling to Antarctica to train the Scott Base personnel in firefighting; Fiji to train 20 firefighters in the Senior Fire Officer course; Tonga where I trained 30 firefighters in a Senior Firefighter course and 30 firefighters in a Fire Officer course. I have also travelled all around NZ, from Queenstown to Auckland, and trained many firefighters.

A (humorous) story about a job that went badly and what you learned: 

When I first started this job at the airport, we did a training exercise after I passed my recruit course. The exercise was for me to respond in the truck and go to our training aircraft and open the door. So I did.

Once I was there I heard both huge trucks start their pumps. At this stage I knew I was going to get very very very wet … So what did I do? I ran! However there is no getting away from the trucks which can drive and squirt water.

I gave up. I was against the fence and they soaked me with two massive monitors, which each put out 5800 litres a minute.

This was in the middle of winter and I can tell you I was freezing cold getting blasted by these two massive things. That was my initiation to Blue Watch 10 years ago.

Qualifications: 
  • I have qualified from firefighter – Qualified firefighter – Senior Firefighter – Fire Officer & Senior Fire Officer.
  • Current trainer for the New Zealand Fire Service
  • First Aid Instructor
  • National Certificate level 2, 3, 4 in Airport Firefighting
  • National Certificate level 2 in rrban firefighting
  • National Certificate level 2 in rural firefighting
Interests outside work: 
  • I have 3 children 2 boys, 12 & 18 & 1 girl 20 years old. Both boys live with their mum and my girl has left home.
  • 2 step children - 2 boys 15 & 18 both live with me and my wife.
  • Like to travel overseas once a year.
  • V8 Supercars (Go the mighty HOLDEN).

Cam Kenyon is a fire officer for the Airport Fire Service.

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