OPINION:
On Sunday, I was driving into town from Ashhurst and a couple of fire engines sped past with an ambulance in tow. I wondered if any of the folks I met last week were in those fire trucks. I hope they got to where they were going on time and helped those who needed them.
When I visited the Palmerston North Fire Station I wanted to hear directly from workers about the massive number of issues they are facing - from equipment being way out of date to poor wages and conditions.
Firefighters do a whole lot more than fighting fires - they are the first to respond to medical events, car crashes, and other traumatic situations. It's not unusual for a rookie firefighter to encounter death within the first few weeks on the job. Access to mental health support is essential for them to do their job to the standard we all depend on.
But the reality is our professional firefighters are working dangerously long hours on old equipment they do not trust. Some of the trucks they are using not only put their lives at risk, but the lives of those they are protecting.