Role
The NZFS was originally designed and equipped as a Firefighting Service, as made obvious by their name. However the additional role - that of a rescue agency - is now of greater significance (in fact the success of the Fire Safety message being put across is that the incidence of 'other' responses (Rescue, etc.) is now greater than that of fire).
Over and above firefighting, the New Zealand Fire Service provides first-response to essentially all emergency situations that are not otherwise handled by the New Zealand Police or a local Ambulance service. This has mainly come through necessity, but also because Firefighting equipment is often useful for the work involved.
Examples include:
- Road Crash Rescue - Extrication of entrapped persons in the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident
- High Angle Rescue - Rescue from the side of buildings; dangerous terrain (cliff faces, etc.)
- Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) - The containment of a hazardous substance and decontamination of an environment or persons affected by a hazardous substance
- Natural Disasters - Addressing the problems caused by heavy rain and high winds (lifted roofing, power lines and trees down onto properties or across roadways, flooding)
- Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) - The New Zealand Fire Service is the lead agency for New Zealand USAR operations (Civil defence & emergency management Act 2002) They also manage three USAR Task Force level teams, providing communications and resources. Being the lead agency, the New Zealand Fire Service also coordinates the 17 NZ Response Teams which also provide light USAR support. Paid career NZFS firefighters have a baseline level of training in USAR techniques and make up the vast majority of the actual USAR team members.
These additional areas have led the NZFS to begin the process of rebranding; it is now actively promoted as being the New Zealand Fire and Rescue Service as this is seen as a more accurate representation of their role in the community. At a government level the much-expanded role of the New Zealand Fire Service has been recognised, and as such the Fire Service Act 1975 (the legislation under which the service operates) is currently under review, with a view to replacing the Act with newer legislation which better supports their work.
Read more about this topic: New Zealand Fire Service
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