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Firefighters say the computer system they depend on for determining their response to incidents is out of date and blame the re-assigning of the person responsible for managing it.
They say the Johnstones Hill twin tunnels on Auckland's newest motorway do not exist in the system and, if there is a callout to an accident there, the information used to send firefighters to the callout shows only paddocks - a "significantly" different fire risk from a major motorway and tunnels.
The Professional Firefighters Union sent a memo to 588 firefighters last week warning them to "seriously consider the validity and safety of any operational instruction" from operational planning officer Basil Cuthbert.
Mr Cuthbert's role in the Fire Service is usually administrative and includes updating the computer system to include new roads and other fire risks that could change the response to a call.
But in Fire Service region restructuring three weeks ago, Mr Cuthbert was assigned to the newly formed Waitemata fire region in a role equivalent to the assistant area manager's position - acting deputy chief fire officer.
The role could put Mr Cuthbert in charge during major fire incidents - something the union says he is unqualified for.
It says the "serious data problems" have been neglected since Mr Cuthbert filled the role and is calling for his appointment to be annulled.
The Fire Service says Mr Cuthbert has not been appointed to the role, but is temporarily filling the position, and management staff have "every confidence" in his abilities.
The union's Auckland president, Jeff McCulloch, told the Herald the memo was not a personal attack on Mr Cuthbert, who might have been forced to take on the higher role.
He said Mr Cuthbert was a "non-operational officer" who had not passed his physical competency assessment - something all firefighters must do.
Mr McCulloch said Mr Cuthbert had not had an operational command role since 1996 but could now be forced to make decisions that could affect the safety of firefighters.
The area manager of the Auckland fire region, Murray Binning, said Fire Service management had responded to a letter the union sent raising its concerns last week.
Mr Binning said Mr Cuthbert had been appointed to the role because of the transition period of restructuring, which had resulted in several changes to job descriptions and ranks that were still being worked through.
"He's just filling in as a stopgap. Within a month we'll have an appointment made."
The process of applications and interviews to fill the position permanently had already started.
"They're saying he wasn't fully operational for many years," Mr Binning said.
"Well, that's true, but it's not as if he wasn't in the fire brigade for many years.
"He's an experienced fire officer who has previously held command positions in fire districts."
Asked whether there were concerns about the new motorway tunnels and the Southeastern Motorway to Pakuranga, which has apparently not been updated on the computer program for 11 years, Mr Binning said: "We don't have any concerns about it. Just because Johnstones Hill tunnels isn't on the system doesn't mean to say we haven't done some homework on it.
"We're as concerned about protecting firefighters as the union is about protecting its members."
