Firefighters take action over fume fears

Fire engines will stay outside Timaru Fire Station as a protest against a seven-year wait for extractor fans.

The New Zealand Professional Firefighters' Union (NZPFU) is calling for all fire trucks to be kept out of stations without extraction systems.

The union was concerned diesel fumes building up in the stations could cause ill health. Fifteen fire stations throughout the country have been required to park their vehicles outdoors, including Timaru Fire Station.

South Canterbury Fire Service area commander Paul Henderson said an extractor fan was already installed at the Washdyke station. Timaru station was in line to get a fan but he did not know when.

"It is a national issue, the union is concerned about the exhaust not being extracted. The engine will stay outside until the extraction unit is fitted but I don't know when we are getting it."

NZPFU president Steve Warner said the union had been asking the fire service for extractor fans for seven years.

"When you start up a diesel truck in an enclosed area like that there are a lot of fumes. "When we go to a house fire we put breathing apparatus on because of the fumes. [After seven years of asking] we got to the end of our tether."We understand things got moving pretty quickly after that [ordering engines to be kept outside.]"

Affected stations are located throughout the North and South Island, including Christchurch, Mosgiel, Dunedin and Invercargill. Mr Warner estimated it would cost about $20,000 to install each fan.

- © Fairfax NZ News