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Source: ONE News -
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Volunteer firefighters called out to a blaze in which an elderly Canterbury woman died are facing allegations that they bungled the job.
And there are also claims a couple had been drinking before they went to the fire in Rangiora two months ago which killed 87-year-old Jean Chaston.
The fatal house fire has been under investigation for weeks with allegations the firefighters bungled the job and claims the victim may have survived if she had been rescued earlier.
The firefighters union says investigations are taking far too long.
"These investigations need to be quick, they need to be truthful and they need to be open," says union president Steve Warner.
Operational logs show firefighters took nearly an hour to find the woman and get her out, but ONE News has been told that in a house that size it probably should have been a matter of minutes. And some say if the woman had been rescued earlier she would have survived.
The logs show that when they first found her one of the firefighters thought she was dead and, running out of oxygen, left her inside.
"It does surprise me... it's very hard to assert if someone is alive when you're wearing a breathing set which is covering your face it would be very hard to assert if life is present or not," says Warner.
It was 25 minutes before the woman was finally pulled out and while paramedics revived her she died the next day in hospital.
The Fire Service says a thorough investigation takes time and spokesman Paul McGill says it is unfair and very unwise to speculate at this stage.
"Fires are very complicated, fast moving and involved," says McGill.
The investigation will look into allegations that two senior firefighters at the scene were drinking earlier in the day.
"Decisions have to be made quickly and they have to be made correctly...and if you are under the influence of anything you can't make those decisions clearly and properly," says Warner.
But McGill says it is important not to jump to any conclusions and that they treat everyone fairly and know all facts before making any judgements.
The reports are expected in a fortnight and the woman's family and the union are saying if mistakes were made it is important everyone learn from them.
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