National releases list of fire engines under threat

The Fire Service denies planning deep cuts to fire engine numbers after National yesterday released a list which it said showed 90 engines are for the chop and another 126 are being downgraded.

The service is reviewing its 800-strong fleet and is preparing a five-year strategy that will mean changes - but the Fire Service and Government are at pains to say it won't mean fewer services, especially in rural areas.

However, the release of the list by National MP Lindsay Tisch has only fuelled concerns, especially in rural areas and ahead of a fire brigades conference in Temuka this weekend where the issue is sure to be raised.

National said 68 of the engines were in volunteer brigades and the rest were in professional brigades, including eight in Auckland city.

But the Fire Service said the impact of the fleet review had not yet been determined and the list dated from April 2004.

The service's operations director Steve Turek said work on how the strategy would impact on stations was still to be done, and there wasn't a more recent list.

However, he confirmed the list was sent to fire regions last year to get their comment on the "operational necessity for the vehicles at any particular location".

"We are a long, long way from finalising that work," he said.

"There are no plans by the Fire Service to reduce services and appliances in communities. The list from Mr Tisch doesn't categorically state that cuts will be made."
The strategy is due to be presented on Monday to firefighters attending the annual United Fire Brigades conference.

Association president Dave MacFarlane said he had not seen the list but was concerned the service had not consulted on it.

"We should have been involved in the construction of that strategy," he said. "We represent 80 per cent of their workforce and they're not talking to us."

Mr MacFarlane said appliance cuts would mean increased emergency response times, as engines would take longer to get to incidents from neighbouring towns.

The issue is sure to be politically sensitive for the Government. Last month it dumped a controversial draft ACC plan to cut rescue helicopters in the central North Island after a public outcry.

But the office of the Minister in charge of the Fire Service, Mark Burton, continued to maintain yesterday that there was no cause for concern.

A spokesman said Mr Burton stood by a statement released on Wednesday which said there was "no agenda" to reduce appliance or service coverage anywhere.

The strategy's aim was for a modern fire and rescue service more closely aligned between "resource and need", which ensured every community got at least equal and preferably an improved service.

Mr Burton said he had sought assurances from commission board chairwoman Dame Margaret Bazley and national fire commander Mike Hall that any plans would provide "equal or better risk management in New Zealand communities".

Last week Mr Burton told the Herald: "Far from it being about stripping things, it's about working towards a model which ensures we get the best forward planning."

Suggestions the strategy was a plan to cut resources in rural communities were "scaremongering".

Yet a draft of the strategy tabled by Mr Tisch in Parliament last week said "appliance relocations and disposals will be inevitable".

"This is about taking another swipe at rural communities," Mr Tisch said. "First it was the land access issue, then they attacked rural schools, then they tried to ground the rescue helicopters, and now it's this."

The late 2003 draft strategy said there were some "multi-pump locations" recommended for review and depending on the outcome appliance numbers may be re-evaluated.

Axe over fire engines?

In April 2004 the Fire Service sought comment from regions about the "operational necessity" of the fire engines listed below

Northland

* Ruakaka: 1 heavy
* Mangonui: 1 light
* Waipu: 1 light
* Ahipara: 1 ultra light
* Russell: 1 ultra light
* Tutukaka Coast: 2 ultra light
* Northland: 1 medium

Auckland

* Auckland: 8 heavy
* Beachlands: 1 light
* East Coast Bays: 1 ultra light
* Laingholm: 1 medium

Bay Waikato

* Bay Waikato: 1 heavy, 2 medium
* Opotiki: 1 medium, 1 light
* Murupara: 1 light
* Te Kuiti: 1 light
* Whangamata: 1 light
* Huntly: 1 ultra light
* Matamata: 1 ultra light
* Turangi: 1 ultra light
* Mangakino: 1 medium
* Raglan: 1 medium

Eastern

* Eastern: 2 light, 2 heavy, 1 medium
* Western: 1 medium
* Napier: 1 light
* Waipawa: 1 light
* Tikitiki: 1 ultra light
* Woodville: 1 medium
* Taihape: 1 light
* Raetihi: 1 ultra light
* Oakura: 1 medium
* Ohakune: 1 medium
* Opunake: 1 mediumfls
* Patea: 1 medium

Arapawa

* Arapawa: 1 heavy
* Murchison: 1 heavy
* Greytown: 1 heavy
* Martinborough: 1 light
* Newlands: 1 light
* Takaka: 1 light
* Wakefield: 1 light
* Collingwood: 1 ultra light
* Eastbourne: 1 medium
* Reefton: 1 light
* Westport: 1 light
* Greymouth: 1 ultra light
* Kaikoura: 1 ultra light
* Lake Tekapo: 1 ultra light
* New Brighton: 1 ultra light
* Culverden: 1 medium
* Hanmer Springs: 1 medium
* Maungaturoto: 1 medium
* Oxford: 1 medium
* Waimate: 1 medium

TransAlpine

* TransAlpine: 2 heavy
* Kaikoura: 1 heavy
* Akaroa: 1 light
* Amberley: 1 light
* Ashburton: 1 light
* Cheviot: 1 light
* Darfield: 1 light
* Fairlie: 1 light
* Geraldine: 1 light
* Greymouth: 1 light
* Methven: 1 light
* Otautau: 1 light
* Palmerston: 1 light
* Riverton: 1 light
* Milton: 1 ultra light
* Ranfurly: 1 ultra light
* Bluff: 1 medium
* Cromwell: 1 medium
* Southern: 1 ultra light
* Otematata: 1 medium
* Winton: 1 medium