1News reporter Abbey Wakefield writes about her experience spending time with volunteer firefighters doing it tough on the frontline.
In New Zealand, volunteer firefighters make up 86% of the frontline Fire and Emergency NZ workforce. Without them, I’m told that New Zealand’s emergency response system would collapse.
Which is why a new report out this week showing volunteer firefighters aren’t feeling valued for their contribution is important.
There’s a few reasons why they feel that way, but the biggest one is because ACC classifies volunteer firefighting as a “leisure activity.”
The United Fire Brigades’ Association road rescue challenge was on in Feilding this week, so 1News’ camera operator Sam and I went on a roadie.
It’s a national competition where teams of six firefighters work to save patients from car wreck simulations.
We got up close with the crew from Amberley, led by Chris, in the red helmet in the image above.
Below is what they were faced with, as they raced against the clock to free a patient from an upside-down car in 30 minutes.
![Volunteer firefighters in action.](https://tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/volunteer-firefighters-in-action-XZAOCIE5BJGA7O4KZEUUIOTLDU.png?auth=e3e9b5fb381336b5bb2420dce44234666171671eb67c3aa682447413a8b30a07&quality=70&width=767&height=431&focal=296%2C183)
It’s a valuable opportunity to practice and learn skills, because volunteer firefighters don’t get the same training, uniform or equipment as their paid counterparts.
Yet, volunteers respond to 70% of motor vehicle accidents, 81% of medical emergencies, and 85% of vegetation fires.
“They’re on call, 24/7, 365 days a year,” United Fire Brigades’ Association Chief Executive Bill Butzbach said.
“They are our farmers, emergency room doctors, police officers, airline pilots, lawyers, teachers, retailers, tradespeople.”
The economic value of volunteer firefighters is $823 million, but they’re not asking to be paid.
Instead, they’re asking to be valued, and ACC classifying volunteer firefighting as a “leisure activity” is doing the opposite.
“ACC does not cover volunteer firefighters for gradual process workplace injuries such as mental trauma or firefighting cancers,” Butzbach said.
While volunteers can get ACC cover available to everyone, those on the frontline say it’s not enough.
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“It is a little bit insulting.”
“If we could be recognised by ACC for the work that we do, and the trauma that we can sustain whilst doing that work, then that would be, that would be huge,” volunteer firefighter Lucy Turnbull said.
She’s been volunteering as a firefighter for seven years and remembers her first fatal car crash, which involved young people.
“You’re always sort of wondering, what could I have done better?”
![Firefighters battling Port Hills fire.](https://tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/firefighters-battling-port-hills-fire-7CSD32B2M5B5XGMTAA6ITWL57A.png?auth=8a562141516ab4389c4afbcdef6a659ed1f8be5c30e61861fc66471495f69f5d&quality=70&width=767&height=431&focal=268%2C205)
Hamish Ward’s been a volunteer firefighter for nearly five years, he also still thinks about the first fatal car crash he attended, “regularly.”
“We’re doing it to help our community, it’s not a recreational activity, we do it because it’s there’s a need for it,” Ward said.
“It’s time for us, the Government, and other decision makers, to recognise the enormous contribution our volunteer firefighters make, and to ensure the needs of our volunteers are always top of mind,” Butzbach said.
ACC Minister Matt Doocey told 1News he acknowledged the selfless and important contributions made by our volunteers – in our emergency services and across New Zealand, in many different roles and settings.
“I’m yet to consider the recently released United Fire Brigade’s Association report and will seek further advice from officials,” Doocey said.