Early Friday morning, 45 firefighters were called to battle the iconic Jam Factory fire on Chapel Street.
Crews faced extreme danger — struggling to access the fire through construction, with flames burning beneath beams and partitions.
And while firefighters were risking their lives, fire trucks were breaking down on scene. One truck — already 6 years past retirement — had to be pushed out and towed away.
Meanwhile, that same day, Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward was busy promoting her toastie.
This is beyond unacceptable. Minister Ward can’t hide behind PR stunts while firefighters are forced to battle fires with equipment that belongs in the scrapyard.
Unless Vicki Ward takes responsibility and fixes this crisis now, it’s only a matter of time before lives are tragically lost.