Firefighters must wait for engine plan details

Firefighters will have to wait until later this month to learn more about a proposal that could see fire engines "redistributed" in some areas.

The Herald reported yesterday how the number of appliances at some stations could be cut under a new system for distributing the Fire Service's 800-strong fleet.

There has been growing concern about what the new strategy - to be presented at a United Fire Brigades Association conference this month - will mean, especially for smaller rural brigades.

United Fire Brigades Association president Dave Macfarlane said he had several calls about the potential cuts yesterday but had few details to offer.

"I have had people ringing in with concern but I have only been able to tell them what I have seen on the news," he said.

Mr Macfarlane said the Fire Service had given the association, which represents volunteer, paid, urban, rural, industrial and defence brigades, an undertaking that the implications of the fleet strategy would be discussed. He had "every expectation that that will occur."

Fire Service national operations director Steve Turek said the association was briefed several months ago and the national commander would give members more details at the conference in Temuka, south Canterbury.

Reducing the number of appliances in rural areas would have several negative effects, Mr Macfarlane said. "Communities take ownership and pride in their local fire brigade. If you are going to start taking equipment out it affects the morale."

Mr Macfarlane was also concerned that removing appliances would affect recruitment and retention and delay the response to emergencies.

"If you have to wait for a second truck to come from a neighbouring town it's going to take longer."

Professional Firefighters Union president Michael McEnaney said news of the possible cuts was posted on the union website but he understood they were directed at the volunteer sector, not the paid metropolitan stations.

A spokeswoman for Mark Burton, the minister responsible for the Fire Service Commission, said the whole fleet was being assessed, including the age of the vehicles and whether the right vehicles were at the right stations.

For instance, there was no point in basing a fire truck with a multi-storey ladder in a small rural community where most of the work would be attending rural fires and car accidents. Some areas could get a different vehicle as a result.

The minister said the review was being done to ensure the right type of vehicles were in the right locations and were replaced in order of priority.