Union fireys slam management’s decision to take critical equipment offline in peak tourist season

Management’s decision to take a critical piece of firefighting equipment out of service during peak tourist season has put lives at risk, fireys say.

The Bronto Skylift aerial platform was scheduled for maintenance over the past fortnight, despite being the only peice of equipment available for high-rise rescues in Darwin. Picture: Supplied.

A decision to carry out scheduled maintenance on a key piece of firefighting equipment during one of the Top End’s busiest months of the year has put thousands of high-rise residents at risk, the firefighters’ union has claimed.

The Bronto Skylift, a truck that allows firefighters to reach up to the 13th floor of buildings, remained out of action for the past fortnight after being sent for servicing on July 31, according to the United Workers Union.

A Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service Bronto operator and union member who spoke with this publication on condition of anonymity said the absence of the aerial platform could have devastating consequences.

“Worst case scenario you have situations where people are left with the options of burning to death or leaping to their death,” the Bronto operator said.

“If people get trapped on balconies because of a fire, basically we have no means to rescue them.

“We’ve got zero aerial options at the moment, we’re on the bones of our arse.”

The operator said fireys understood the need to service their equipment, but questioned executive management’s timing during peak tourist season.

“The problem is this is the busiest time for hotel occupancies with Darwin Festival ramping up and the Darwin Cup, everywhere is chock-a-block,” he said.

“Members are quite concerned that it doesn’t seem like management are taking due care.

“There was nothing wrong with the Bronto, a simple risk mitigation would be to push back the service a month.”

A Bronto operator said that without the truck fireys were “on the bones of our arse”. Picture: Supplied.

Chief Fire Officer ignores Bronto staffing requirement

The union also pointed to management allegedly ignoring safety concerns in the Bronto’s operation - one of many claims made during a long-running stand-off between members and the executive over pay and conditions.

A NTFRS Health and Safety Representative issued a provisional improvement notice to chief executive Michael Murphy in mid June, identifying that the Bronto had been chronically understaffed since 2020 – running with two operators instead of three as per the Bronto’s operation manual.

Management’s failure to notify NT WorkSafe of any objections within seven days meant the notice came into force on June 26, requiring them to increase Bronto staffing under the Work Health and Safety Act.

But an email from Chief Fire Officer Mark Spain on July 6 revealed he instructed the fire service not to roster additional shifts for the truck.

“Please advise Watch Commanders that the Bronto is to be staffed at a minimum of a two person qualified crew; in the event there are suitably qualified crew available (not creating extra overtime on shift) they can be assigned as the third operator until WorkSafe complete their review,” the email, seen by this publication, said.

A spokesman for the NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services said “the Bronto aerial appliance is in service and currently based at Darwin Fire Station”.

“At this point in time, the provisional improvement notice is still in place while NTFRS work through the resolution process with NT WorkSafe, therefore no further comment will be made by NTFRS.

“Through announcements earlier this year the NTFRS will have two additional aerial appliances added to the fire service, and they are in the process of being ordered for delivery at a later date.”

WorkSafe confirmed the issues identified in the provisional improvement notice remained unresolved and the notice was still in place.