A struggle to attract and retain new volunteers in recent years has firefighters from Tauranga and Mount Maunganui taking a new, hard and fast-paced approach to their recruitment drive this weekend.

Tauranga Senior firefighter Jeff Francis says poor results from previous recruitment drives giving out pamphlets about the volunteer service has prompted them to take a more active approach.

Firefighters Jared Hutcheson, Steve Gilmore, Bruce Rutherford, Jeff Francis and Kim Shelley. Photo: Ross Brown.

The Tauranga crew currently has 16 members – falling short of the 22 it should boast. While they have a strong core with at least six years' experience, Jeff hopes this weekend will bring keen volunteers forward.

On Saturday, outside Rebel Sports from 10am-2pm, people can don the uniform and get a taste for volunteering on the frontline.

This includes rescuing a 97kg casualty in the challenge's dummy run, testing fitness in the sledgehammer hit test, taking on the hose reel challenge or racing 50m with a 20 litre drum.

'This time around we have come up with something different to convince them to get a feel for it. It's a physical thing to get them involved and have a bit of fun, have a crack at it and see if they enjoy it, and then we can take it further,” says Jeff..

The volunteer crews play a critical role in the Western Bay, backing up the paid firefighters stationed in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Greerton.

After 13 year Jeff still loves the chance it offers to give back to the community, the new skills he has learned and great friends he's made.

If you can't make Saturday's drive but are still interested, email taurangafire@hotmail.com