Members should be aware that District Manager Mackereth has unilaterally made the decision to remove the Hazmat Command Appliance from immediate response to confirmed structure fire incidents for incidents in Auckland City Central Fire District.
As members will be aware, the Hazmat Command was added to structure fires to perform post fire particulate suppression, decontamination and the provision of modestly tents to allow firefighters to disrobe out of their Level Two Structure Fire PPE.
The Local has spoken to DM Mackereth, asking him to pause this instruction until matters such as the privacy of firefighters has been properly addressed. Unfortunately, he has refused to do so.
We have now formally written to him outlining our concerns and asked him to provide the following:
- With the removal of the Command Units from confirmed structure fires, how will firefighter and public modesty be managed on the fire ground?
- Will firefighters and members of the public be expected to disrobe and get changed out of dirty contaminated PPE in view of the public and other staff? If not, what are they to do?
- What contingencies have you introduced to ensure that privacy concerns are addressed, including the unwanted taking of photos by members of the public and posting pictures of staff in various stages of undress on social media?
- Did you consult with any other stakeholder groups, internally or externally, prior to issuing this instruction?
- Given that in Tamaki Makaurau the Hazmat / Commands are permanently staffed with a trained and experienced Officer and Firefighter, other than saving cost of the diesel from responding, what are you hoping to achieve with the removal of the Hazmat / Command from confirmed structure fires?
Until the Local receives this information that addresses the above, the recommendation is that ALL Incident Commanders should request that the Hazmat Command is responded to ALL confirmed structure fire incidents to maintain firefighter safety, and safe systems of work.
The Local is disappointed that once again Fire and Emergency Management fails to follow the very values that it purports to its staff; more do as I say, not what I do, behaviour.
If you have any queries, please contact one of your Station Representatives.
