Workers fear Fire Service revamp will add to extra workload

There is a proposed shake-up in support roles for the Fire service. Photo / Herald on Sunday

A planned radical shake-up of Fire Service administration is ringing alarms at fire stations around the country with concerns about job losses and extra workload arising from a loss of support services.

Sixty-eight positions in regional and area headquarters are disestablished in a proposed "reduction and realignment" document which firefighters have six weeks to respond to.

Under the proposals, a number of support roles at area and regional level disappear as functions are centralised. Some fire safety officers, responsible for fire prevention, community education and fire investigations, are deemed surplus to requirements.

The Fire Service said total administration numbers would be left virtually unchanged, at about 212 full-time equivalents, and painted the restructuring as more a "renaming of job titles" and standardisation of practices nationwide.

But volunteer firefighters, who make up three-quarters of Fire Service personnel, fear increased workload from the axing of support roles for activities including fleet and equipment maintenance and movements and logistical support. Some are threatening to refuse any new work - adding to an already-strained service as paid firefighters take industrial action over contract negotiations.

Of the "disestablished" jobs, 21 are in the Auckland region and 22 in the Wellington region covering the lower half of the North Island.

"We find [the job losses] unacceptable in Auckland given the population and the associated risks," said Mike McEnaney, Auckland branch president of the Professional Firefighters Union. He said changes affecting volunteer staff and fire risk management were causing "huge dissatisfaction".

"There's no doubt this will lead to a reduction in efficiency of the Fire Service and one of the outcomes will be more people put at greater risk."

Volunteer brigade chiefs spoken to by the Herald were concerned that any extra work arising from the loss of paid support staff would worsen already serious recruitment shortages in towns and districts.

George Verry, president of the United Fire Brigades Association which represents volunteers, said volunteers were still digesting the proposals and some could see benefits. But the loss of paid support was emerging as a big concern and any reduction in the emphasis on the fire safety message would be opposed.

Fire Service assistant national commander Paul Baxter said a major focus of the changes was to make things easier for volunteers. It was proposed to merge and centralise fleet and property management functions, freeing up region managers to concentrate on fire risk and their staff.