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The real Peka Peka is too small for a fire station of its own, and so I’ve used creative license in its location. However, the café where Steph and Lou work, is very real, and is a favourite of mine. You can find me there most weekends, dropping in for coffee and fresh baked goods.
Also, and in order to simplify the staffing for the Peka Peka fire station, I’ve not made any mention of the volunteer firefighters. Career firefighters make up only 20 percent of the New Zealand Fire Service's firefighting manpower; the remaining 80 percent of firefighters are volunteers, who receive no payment for their time or labour. The 8,300 volunteer firefighters belong to the 360 volunteer fire brigades, mainly serving small towns, communities and outer suburbs which career stations do not cover, and respond to 20–30% of all incidents the New Zealand Fire Service attends.