Hutt Valley jolt prompts quake plan practice

A 5.5 magnitude earthquake centred near Upper Hutt today has prompted the Fire Service to practise its earthquake response plan.

The quake struck at 7.56am and was 30km deep. At 8.02am a second quake of 3.7 was recorded in the same location.

Lower Hutt chief fire officer Peter Bean told NZPA he had spoken to Civil Defence straight after the quakes and had decided to test the tactical plan.

"We're taking the opportunity to go over our drive-by routes and checks," he said.

Mr Bean said word had gone around his station there could be a strong earthquake this week, but "it was just a rumour".

"When you get a swarm of earthquakes, as we have had in the Wellington region lately, the rumours float around but we certainly haven't had any documentation to confirm it."

The testing of the plan took about 25 minutes and involved staff and fire trucks from four stations in Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt.

"It makes things much more realistic," Mr Bean said.

If a big quake struck, fire truck teams would check bridges, business and hospital areas, access routes and reservoirs, to see if they were breached, and report back any damage.

"We would then return to our normal rescue duties if it was a major earthquake."

Firefighters were trained to Level 1, or limited, earthquake response training and were equipped with the jaws of life and basic hoist equipment for rescues.

"Then we have a professional group of ambulance officers, army officers, council staff etc, who are at Level 2 training, and they would be deployed," Mr Bean said.

- NZPA