From the small Southland town of Browns, Ian Lindsay has had a big impact on New Zealand's firefighting community.

Lindsay, 68, stepped down last month after 18 years as fire chief of Browns volunteer brigade, about 8km east of Winton.

But he plans to continue his astonishing 46 years of voluntary service to the community and brigade, by carrying on as station officer.

The brigade had been going less than a year when he joined up, back in 1975.

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"We'd just got married and moved into the area, and some locals encouraged me to join," he says.

"I had no experience, of course, and I never considered I'd still be doing it now. It's turned into a lifelong passion."

The sheep and deer farmer says it's the comradery, the skills you learn as a firefighter, and helping the community that has kept him involved all these years.

He's led the volunteer brigade through monumental changes.

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"It's a lot different than it was in 1975. There are certainly a lot less fires and a lot more of other stuff." 

There have been some major fires, though, with the one that burned down Oreti Rest Tavern in March 1999, the most memorable.

Like most call outs these days, it was a collective effort, with crews from Browns, Winton, Dipton and Otautau attending.

"We could see the glow in the sky kilometres before we got there. When we arrived, a lot of it was still intact, it was mainly burning in the ceiling at that stage.

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"But there was a howling wind, and you can't compete with nature."

When they finally beat the blaze at 3.30am, only the exterior walls of the landmark were left standing.

"More recently there was a house fire at Hokonui, an eight-bedroom just north of Browns, which again, unfortunately we couldn't do much to save because there was a howling north-wester blowing."

Collaboration between brigades, both in attending calls, training and planning is a feature of modern firefighting in New Zealand.

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And Lindsay has been 'heavily involved', as they say, on a local, regional and national level.

A life member of the Browns Volunteer Brigade, he's also a life member of the United Fire Brigades Association, serving as president from 2010 to 2011 and continuing to represent it at various presentations.

He was also secretary and chair of the Otago Southland Provincial Fire Brigades' Association and involved with the Western Southland Fire Brigade Sub Association, which covers 20-odd brigades from Te Anau through to Stewart Island.

Some of his most important contributions have come through advocating for the volunteers on the National Uniform Advisory Group.

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"It can be quite technical. We do everything from trialing to pushing for what is required. The mighty dollar always speaks, but it's improving.

"Just recently every volunteer has been issued with a new soft-shell jacket, which is going down very well. There was a bit of a delay in getting it but we got them eventually.

"Some of the PPE we wear, that's a big accomplishment, especially to get it approved from the hierarchy. We can spend a lot of time working out what is really needed, trailing it and tweaking until it goes into full production."

He also officiates at the legendary UFBA firefighter challenges: waterway, road crash, drivers and the hose-carrying, tower climbing combat test of skill and fitness.

"They call it the toughest two minutes on earth. I would take two hours now, I think. I had a go back in the day, it bloody near killed me."

For his contribution, Lindsay was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in 2012.

"It meant a lot, it was humbling to get it, but I received it on behalf of my family and the brigade."

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He also received his gold star on 25 years. "That was a big one too, but it's almost a memory now."

Lindsay's service was recognised at an honours night last month, where his son Blair Lindsay received his long service and good conduct, after 14 years with the brigade.

"It's good to see him carry it on," he says.

There were also flowers for Lindsay's wife Lyn, who's supported him throughout, while friend Donald MacGregor received his life membership, after 23 years.

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Southland area manager Julian Tohiarikia officially handed the baton to the new chief and deputy, Greg Gill and Tony Anderson, giving them their white helmets.

"They're good people," says Lindsay.

"That's one of the reasons I was ready to step down. I've been there a long time and there are young nippers in the brigade who are very capable of taking over. A change of guard doesn't hurt.

"You start getting a little complacent after doing a job like that for a long time, and when you're older you do lose touch a little bit.

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"I'm starting to realise I'm getting in the older bracket now."

John Graham, who'd been Lindsay's deputy for 18 years, sadly passed away last December after a sudden illness.

While Browns itself is getting smaller, down to a population of about 100, the brigade is always on the lookout for volunteers, who can respond to calls at a drop of a hat.

"If they're even half interested, they should go and see the brigade and have a good yarn to them. It's something a little different

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"It doesn't work 8-5, of course and sometimes we can go a fair distance when called."

Browns supports neighbouring brigades on call outs, Winton, Mataura to the east, sometimes Invercargill, Riverdale and Dipton.

"That's one of the interesting things, I wouldn't call it a thrill, but it's the unknown. You don't know what you're going to be called to, or how long you're going to be away.

"You think you've got everything all cleared out and then something major happens."