The Fire Service is being accused of intimidating staff who send out more fire appliances than they are supposed to.

Operational staff have been instructed to send two appliances to call outs from low risk buildings with sprinkler systems, as the Fire Service says most automatic alarm calls are false alarms. However, the Professional Firefighters Union says the policy is putting members at further risk.

It says operational firefighters who increase the response beyond the standard two appliances are being asked to explain why and are being threatened with disciplinary action.