UPDATED 5.26pm: Claims that firefighters are too scared to get to emergencies quickly is being labelled disturbing, and not good enough.

LISTEN ABOVE: Derek Best, New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union secretary, talks to Larry Williams

Wellington firefighters have spoken out through the media, saying many are stopping at red lights even when driving to emergencies, after one of their own was slapped with legal action following a collision.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne said he's meeting with firefighters in two day's time to get to the bottom of the issue.

But he said there are legal provisions to protect firefighters.

"I think we expect our emergency services to be able to respond quickly to a particular emergency, and the thought of Police, ambulance and fire service vehicles queued up at traffic lights just seems a little bit baffling to me frankly."

Mr Dunne said he's spent a lot of time with emergency service personnel, and the behaviour of motorists can be unpredictable.

"Indeed I recall many years ago, not in an official capacity, but being in a taxi in Auckland that was hit by a fire vehicle on the way to a fire service because this taxi just stopped dead in the middle of an intersection."

The Fire Service said it's not aware of firefighters stopping at red lights out of fear of prosecution.

National operations manager Paul Turner said it's not a problem he's aware of on a national basis - and this may be the view of an individual firefighter.

He said they have very clear policies and procedures around what is expected from drivers.

"The public can be reassured that the fire service will continue to respond as we always have done, 24/7," he said.