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Source: ONE News -
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Firefighters are accusing the Fire Service of exaggerating the cost of false alarms.
The Fire Service says the cost to taxpayers of false call-outs was up to $25 million in the past financial year but the Auckland Firefighters Union says the claims are paving the way to reduce the response to central city buildings with fire protection systems.
President Jeff McCulloch says the only additional cost for attending a fire is the diesel used by the fire trucks. He says the fire fighters are there anyway and and the fact they go out to a call is not a cost.
"The Fire Service is engaging in scaremongering," says McCulloch.
He says most false alarms to commercial buildings are caused by either workmen not isolating the systems, people allowing cooking to get out of hand, or inferior fire alarm installations.
McCulloch says all of the cost of the Fire Service comes from a levy on insurance policies.
"The union is well aware of plans by Fire Service senior management to reduce this response to any building in which a sprinkler system is fitted. We are very concerned about this reduction, as it will have a severe effect on property damage from water should a system be activated accidentally."
