'Fires too tiny to start sprinklers'

Photo / APN

The Fire Service has responded to criticism from the Firefighters Union about a new policy to reduce the number of engines sent to building with sprinklers which they say endangered lives after two fires in Central Auckland this week.

Sprinkler systems at Auckland University's O'Rorke Hall and IAG House did not "fail to operate" as reported by the union after separate blazes in the high-rises on Wednesday, the Fire Service said.

They were not triggered because the blazes - one in a laundry basket, the other on a mattress - were too small. Smoke alarms did go off.

Union vice-president Peter Hallet said after the fires a national policy enacted in April to cut the number of engines sent to buildings with sprinklers to two - with eight firefighters on board - put lives in danger.

He said the fires had the potential to have tragic consequences as there are often delays waiting for backup.

But the Fire Service said almost all alarm activations at buildings with sprinklers were false alarms.

"The policy reflects the low level of risk and ensures that we have more resources available to respond to genuine emergencies."

The two appliances sent found signs of smoke and more appliances were called for.

"In both cases the two appliances sent were more than capable of dealing with the initial incident and crews followed the policy by calling for backup ... as per our response for a confirmed fire."