URGENT NOTICE FOR AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND: FIRE CRISIS WALK OFF

On Friday the 19th 2022 between 11am and 12pm, firefighters, dispatchers, trainers, fire investigators and other emergency staff will be walking off the job. Another hour long strike will be planned the following Friday, the 26th.

This means two things:

Practice care in this time. Reponse will not be provided to any of the usual jobs that these services fulfil (house fires, commercial fires, motor vehicle accidents, entrapments, medical events, hazardous material incidents, animal rescues, etc). FENZ111 will not be responding. Some districts are reporting that volunteer brigades will be responding and others are saying they will not be: assume they will not be at this point, and proceed with extra caution during this time frame. EDIT with more info: it has been confirmed that volunteer teams will still be responding, and calls will be sent through other 111 dispatch - this will still lead to significant time delays and no guarantee of a response.

Search your local fire station and see if they are calling for support. Many are asking for family, friends and supporters to meet at rally points at 10:45am in order to join them in walking off the job. It's been indicated to me that signs of support are appropriate to bring (I also know people who will be bringing kai to share).

You can also support the staff by going to FIRECRISIS and learning more about why firefighters have been on strike across Aotearoa, and why this unprecendented action is being taken.