Union defies fire bosses

Firefighters who ignore a new directive to take fewer appliances to callouts at large buildings with sprinklers are being threatened with disciplinary action.

The move has been described as "intimidating and threatening" by the New Zealand Professional Firefighters' Union.

The Waikato Times reported earlier this month Fire Service national commander Mike Hall's announcement that two appliances, instead of four, would be sent to "unconfirmed emergencies" or suspected false alarms at some schools, shopping complexes and a small number of rest homes assessed as low risk.

Some of the 244 Hamilton buildings affected are Westfield Chartwell, Farmers on Anglesea St and Hamilton Boys' and Girls' High Schools.

Union vice-president Peter Hallett said members were told to ignore the new directive as there was no evidence it would work.

"The union says this move endangers the people who live, work and sleep in those buildings, as well as firefighters. Our members are following the NZPFU's advice to (not respond to the directive)."

Mr Hallett said the union suspected some buildings had not been properly assessed to determine the right level of response for some time.

Two of those were Hamilton's Founders Theatre and Centre Place where the Fire Service management had reversed the callout response.

"In Hamilton alone, firefighters' concerns have been confirmed by an admission from Fire Service management that the buildings fitted with sprinkler systems have not been `risk assessed' properly as required by the Fire Service's policy."

Mr Hallett said there were "numerous" Hamilton buildings identified by the Fire Service as fully sprinklered when they were not and would require more firefighters to respond to a call-out.

Two he had discovered in the past two weeks were the Te Rapa shopping centre at the corner of Te Rapa Rd and Garnett Rd and the YWCA.

The Fire Service has previously told the Times the move was to save wasted time and traffic congestion at buildings assessed as low risk and equipped with an automated alarm and sprinkler system.

Fire Service assistant national commander Bill Butzbach said that, like any employer, the service followed standard management procedures if an employee refused to carry out their duties.

"As part of this it is quite proper to ask for an explanation when lawful instructions are not followed, and point out the policies and procedures that the employee is bound by."

Nationally, 26 firefighters, mostly station officers, had been spoken to about breaking the rules. Mr Butzbach said of the "thousands" of calls to alarmed buildings "almost all" were false alarms.

"On the rare occasion when there is a fire, the sprinklers will extinguish it or control it until we arrive." Extra appliances could also be immediately dispatched.

The new response was the same as was in place for more than half the country's buildings with sprinklers installed. Risk assessments were based partly on information from operational officers and their crews, with reviews carried out by area managers.

"We have modified our turn-out to two of them after new information was brought to our attention," Mr Butzbach said.

- © Fairfax NZ News