Latest news with #FENZ
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The Panel with Jennie Moreton and Steve McCabe Part 1
Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Jennie Moreton and Steve McCabe. Starting off, the Panel hears how FENZ thinks the cost of living may be to blame for a high number of deaths caused by house fires - high prices forcing people to try and heat their home with the gas barbeques. They also discuss the TikTok video made by an Australian living in Wellington who claims it's "cold, dark, gloomy and depressing" and Wellingtonians as "unmotivated" with "no aspiration". To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
15 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Surge in house fire deaths over alternative heating methods
Barbecues used indoors can spark fires. Photo: 123RF Fire and Emergency (FENZ) says the cost of living could be to blame for the highest number of house fire fatalities in a decade. According to FENZ, in the past 12 months 17 people have died in avoidable house fires. In a typical year there were about 13 fatalities. FENZ reduction and investigations manager Pete Gallagher said in some cases, fires had been sparked by people using barbecues to heat their homes. "One of the things we're concerned about is people using non-traditional heating devices as a way of heating their homes," he told RNZ's Midday Report . "In order to reduce the cost of living and reduce their use of electricity, they're resorting to using items we wouldn't normally see in a household setting, things like barbecues being brought inside and used as a heating device in the home." He estimated roughly four or five fatal house fires in the past year were caused by people taking desperate measures to keep themselves warm. "We still see people utilising industrial heaters in a domestic home, and obviously they're a very powerful heater designed to heat large warehouses, and we saw some tragedy result in the use of one of those last year." Gallagher said people needed to think about safety when heating their homes. He said there were two incidents in the past year where candles caused a fire, which resulted in death. Gallagher said this past year's statistics were disappointing, as house fire fatalities had previously been on the decline. "The population has been doing a great job at reducing the number of deaths from house fires. I'd like to think this is just a blip in our statistics. But it looks to be a trend we need to get on top of because we don't want to get back to the days of the 1970s and 1980s, where a large number of New Zealanders were dying in house fires." He attributed financial pressures and people not giving proper attention to their electrical devices to the number of deaths "skyrocketing back up". "We're seeing wider use of electrical devices, there are more things people plug in or turn on in their homes and sometimes without the necessary care and attention. "But certainly the cost of living, we see that driving the way people are operating these days, and that's definitely impacting our fire statistics. 'It's a concern that people are putting themselves at risk." Gallagher said with the country experiencing colder days recently, it was timely for people to make sure they were taking a safety approach to staying warm. "We have this phrase, the 'heater metre'. We want everyone to be aware that a heating device is just as effective when it's a metre away. "When drying clothes, they don't need to be on top of the heater; they can be a metre away." He said two-thirds of the fire fatalities in the past year happened in homes while people were sleeping. "The importance of a smoke alarm cannot be overlooked. It's key for that early warning, and once it activates, it's important to have a plan to get out and stay out of the house." Fire statistics showed that those aged 65 and over, in particular, were at greater risk, Gallagher said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Surge in house fire deaths may be tied to cost of living
Barbecues used indoors can spark fires. Photo: 123RF Fire and Emergency (FENZ) says the cost of living could be to blame for the highest number of house fire fatalities in a decade. According to FENZ, in the past 12 months 17 people have died in avoidable house fires. In a typical year there were about 13 fatalities. FENZ reduction and investigations manager Pete Gallagher said in some cases, fires had been sparked by people using barbecues to heat their homes. "One of the things we're concerned about is people using non-traditional heating devices as a way of heating their homes," he told RNZ's Midday Report . "In order to reduce the cost of living and reduce their use of electricity, they're resorting to using items we wouldn't normally see in a household setting, things like barbecues being brought inside and used as a heating device in the home." He estimated roughly four or five fatal house fires in the past year were caused by people taking desperate measures to keep themselves warm. "We still see people utilising industrial heaters in a domestic home, and obviously they're a very powerful heater designed to heat large warehouses, and we saw some tragedy result in the use of one of those last year." Gallagher said people needed to think about safety when heating their homes. He said there were two incidents in the past year where candles caused a fire, which resulted in death. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Professional firefighters' union members reject pay offer of 5.1% over three years
The union says 99 percent of members who attended meetings rejected the offer and voted for strike action. Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal The union for career firefighters has rejected Fire and Emergency New Zealand's latest pay offer of a 5.1 percent pay increase over the next three years. FENZ deputy national commander Megan Stiffler said they felt the offer, along with some increases to some allowances, was "fair" and balanced the cost of living pressures of staff alongside fiscal pressures faced by the agency. New Zealand Professional Firefighters' Union (NZPFU) national secretary Wattie Watson said 99 percent of members who attended meetings had voted to reject the offer, and voted for industrial action. Watson said it was an "appalling offer" that failed to address any of their concerns about the health and safety and the state of fire appliances. They had been bargaining since the middle of last year, and firefighters had not had a pay increase since July 2023, she said. Due to the delays, the 5.1 percent would not cover the lack of any pay increases for the past two years, Watson said. FENZ said collective agreement settlement in 2022 had provided a wage increase of up to 24 percent over a three-year period for career firefighters. However Watson said that settlement covered some of the years leading up to the settlement, and only covered wage increases until 2023. She added that that increase was for correcting decades of firefighters being underpaid. "That pay increase was a result of a process including government involvement, where it was proven that our members were so significantly underpaid when compared to other external workforces, and internally in FENZ - with corporate staff and HR staff - that there needed to be a significant uplift," she said. Meanwhile, FENZ maintained that it had invested significantly in its people and resources. "Fire and Emergency has also been investing in replacing our fleet, with 317 trucks replaced since 2017 and another 70 on order. We are currently spending over $20 million per year on replacement trucks. There is also a significant programme of station upgrades underway, as well as investment in training," Stiffler said. Watson however said that the 317 trucks mostly went to rural fire stations, and that currently the appliances at career fire stations in the urban areas were in a "dismal" state. Watson said career fire stations were expecting to get 40 trucks in the next few months, however testing had discovered that many had problems and none were ready for commissioning, Watson said. Trucks had been breaking down on their way to jobs, and pumps had also been breaking down - putting firefighters and the public at risk, she said. Members deserved a reasonable pay increase that recognised the cost of living pressures, and a package that also addressed the safety concerns, Watson said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Icy roads causing crashes
Photo: 123rf Sub-zero temperatures in southern parts of the country are a reminder to take care on the roads, Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said on Thursday. Southern fire crews attended three crashes related to icy conditions before 6.30am. MetService reported temperatures in the negatives across the South Island and in parts of the lower North Island. Timaru dipped below -4C, while Queenstown was -3C just ahead of 7am. In the North Island, Masterton was reporting temperatures nearing -2 at about 6am. FENZ spokesperson Daryl Ball said crews responded to a light truck that ended up on its side in slippery conditions near Ravensbourne, Christchurch at about 5.30amTwo other crashes attributed to the conditions were also attended. He said ice was widespread on southern roads, and could linger well into the morning. "Don't assume that because it looks good it's safe. There is ice absolutely everywhere this morning," Ball said. A police spokesperson said there were no reports of serious injuries in weather-related incidents. "Please - slow down, watch your following distance and use your headlights. We want everyone to get where they're going safely this morning." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
