Fire station dispute over

Press, 19 December 1986, Page 5

Fire station dispute over

A dispute over accommodation at the Timaru Central Fire Station which saw Timaru and Christchurch firemen providing only emergency fire and accident services ended at 6 p.m. last evening. The Timaru Fire Brigade Union spokesman, Mr Kevin Johnstone, said he met with Mr Brian Armstrong, a Fire Service commissioner from Wellington, and Mr Armstrong agreed that the firemen, should not have to use a building which the Ministry of Works had found to be a high earthquake risk.

“We will now take up accommodation on the safe side of the station .tomorrow and Mr Armstrong’s comment was that it would be irresponsible for the commission

to keep using the old accommodation,” said Mr Johnstone.

Last Friday Timaru’s 42 firemen voted to stop all routine duties after the Fire Service Commission had earlier requested that they use a night shift accommodation wing which the Ministry had said should be demolished. On Monday Christchurch firemen also voted to stop all routine duties in sympathy for their Timaru colleagues.

A new fire station is to be built in Timaru but its actual construction date could be four or five years away. Until then temporary facilities will be provided on the site and the old accommodation wing which dates back to 1914 is likely to be demolished.