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Firefighter strikes are continuing to smolder as they down tools regularly in efforts to secure better pay and address safety concerns.
“The need for additional contingency arrangements today reinforces the disruption caused by the ongoing strike action,” Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s (FENZ) Megan Stiffler confirmed ahead of today’s strike, from 4.30 to 5.30pm.
“We remain focused on achieving a fair and sustainable settlement with the NZPFU (NZ Professional Firefighters Union) so we can continue working to keep communities safe and urge the NZPFU to lift strike action while engagement between the parties continues.”
While some responses are impacted, FENZ has contingencies in place.
“I want to reassure the public that all 111 calls will be received and responded to during the strike period,” Stiffler says. “It is important to remember that response times may be delayed in impacted areas as volunteer crews have to respond from the next closest location.
“Due to staffing impacts, police will receive 111 fire calls on Fire and Emergency’s behalf under agreed call-taking and transfer protocols. Fire and Emergency staff will continue to triage and dispatch trucks and crews to incidents.”
As it has during previous strikes, FENZ will prioritise emergencies and may not attend less serious incidents, such as private fire alarms where there is no sign of fire, small rubbish fires, traffic-management assistance and animal rescues, Stiffler says.
FENZ will be working with Hato Hone St John with regards to medical events.
In general, the advice remains the same:
“If there is a fire, evacuate early, get out, stay out, then call 111.
