Firefighters have been forced to slow their speed of response to calls for help or risk prosecution.
A warning has been issed to firefighters following serious concerns around J-rated tyres fitted to fire engines, tyres that are rated for a maximum speed of 100km/hr.
New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union's Auckland Local Secretary John Waldow has addressed safety concerns for the type of tyres used.
"Factory fitted tyres are rated for speeds up to 130km/hr (M rated); however cheaper, inferior tyres fitted to some fire engines have a maximum speed rating of just 100km/h and no safety speed margin,” he says.
As a result, professional firefighters across Auckland have now been instructed to tell members to put the brakes on.
While the Fire and Emergency NZ Response Driving Policy allows for firefighters who are responding to emergencies to respond at up to 105km/hr, the Police Commercial Safety Team has issued the Union with a legal opinion laying out the consequences for firefighters who exceed the maximum speed rating of the tyres.
“This will result in our delayed arrival to people’s emergencies. Any delay in the response of fire appliances or emergency vehicles could ultimately lead to a loss of life,” says Mr Waldow.
The Union says this unfortunate action is due to the employer’s attempts at saving money by fitting cheaper, inferior tyres to its frontline fire appliances at the expense of the public and our employees.
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