Firefighters vulnerable to outdated legislation

Northland's five firefighting bodies may become one as part of the nationwide Fire Services Review

Archaic laws governing firefighters are out of sync with the evolving role and need to change, Northland firefighters say.

The region's five firefighting bodies may become one as part of the nationwide Fire Services Review, though there are concerns the move could see rural communities under served.

A Department of Internal Affairs review identified potential issues with fire services operating under legislation created in 1975.

Volunteer firefighters were particularly open to liability when attending non-fire events, said Northern Region's principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor.

"From my perspective we are starting to go to more medical calls, car accidents and things like that. It doesn't give the protection we would like."

Mr Taylor said the Rural Fire Authority comprised a number of regional branches, meaning greater innovation at a local level. This could be lost under a single body.

Northern Regional Fire Authority covered the Far North, while Whangarei and Kaipara district councils and the Department of Conservation were responsible for managing rural fire crews across the rest of Northland.

Rural fire authorities were currently funded by local and central government, while the New Zealand Fire Service was funded from insurance levies.

Fire Service acting area commander Wipari Henwood supported a change to one nationally co-ordinated fire service to deliver rural and urban fire and emergency services.

A national body would be better equipped to deal with the changing nature of the job.

"There are changing expectations of the communities we are serving. In the 1990s there was a change from response to reduction and readiness."

Mr Henwood said the law protected staff and volunteers to a certain extent so long as they were acting in good faith, but this could be strengthened.

"We've had situations in the past where people have had to go and do things they're not trained to do - so that won't have to happen."

Whangarei District Council submitted in support of the "one national fire service" option, but raised concerns this could result in limited expertise around long duration rural fires and lessen funding to rural volunteer crews.