Defence Force personnel primed to cover for striking fire crews

Fire and Emergency has asked the Defence Force for help to man trucks if 10-hour strikes by firefighters go ahead.Contingency plans laid out this week and seen by RNZ are for trained NZDF firefighters to man FENZ firetrucks at up to 20 "priority" fire stations.The first of a series of 10-hour strikes by Professional Firefighters' Union members has been notified for 27 November.FENZ's plan requires the Defence Minister's approval. RNZ has gone to the minister for comment."NZDF is asked to advise how many crews could be made available," said one plan.The agency has been doing a "proximity" analysis to pick the priority stations.Both FENZ and the union say the industrial action is unprecedented, and FENZ says it could have "fatal consequence". The union says the agency's long-running failure to do a deal is putting the public at risk.The plans show each four-crew firetruck with defence personnel on board could fight building and vegetation fires, and rescue anyone trapped.FENZ ladder trucks used on the likes of multistoreys and industrial fires would not be available, nor would medical co-responses, or responses to cliff rescues, hazardous substances callouts, or urban search and rescue."Our ability to deliver our functions under our legislation are reduced considerably and, in some functions, withdrawn completely," said another plan around the use of volunteers.The defence plan shows the troops would stay under the command of their own officer, but under FENZ control, with a FENZ commander at each station.Volunteer firefighters have also been primed to provide cover, but their union said they will not be asked to do anything they were not trained for."They're not going to do anything that they don't do now," said United Fire Brigades Association head Bill Butzbach."Here's an example. If there's a major chemical spill on the Ferguson container terminal in Auckland, they're not going to it."Volunteers had been advised to expect any 10-hour strike period to be busier than normal, especially in the big cities, Butzbach told RNZ.The strike action follows a years-long fight over pay and conditions that culminated in mass rejection of a pay offer last week.The minister in charge of FENZ is now Nicole McKee, as Brooke van Velden, who was internal affairs minister, did not stand for re-election.RNZ has asked McKee and Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith if they are fully assured that the contingency plans would be adequate to safeguard people's lives and property, and also not expose the defence firefighters crewing unfamiliar trucks to excessive risk.