Otago Rural Fire Authority principal rural fire officer Stephanie Rotarangi was in Balclutha yesterday at the hearing of submissions on the Clutha District Council's long-term plan.
The council is being asked to consider a one-off grant of $344,250 to help pay for the replacement of four water tankers around the district.
Dr Rotarangi told the council the tankers were not fit for purpose as emergency services vehicles.
''It's nothing to do with their age - it's everything to do with the way they have been set up. And that's what we're here to change.''
Three of the six deaths of rural firefighters in New Zealand since 2008 were in tanker accidents.
The water tankers at Clutha Valley and Lawrence were deemed not fit for purpose and taken off the road, Dr Rotarangi said.
The rural fire authority had replaced the vehicles.
These were due for replacement in 2016-17, which could be done at a cost to the council of $174,250.
The tankers for the Balclutha Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Waihola Volunteer Rural Fire Force were now operating under major restrictions, she said.
These tankers needed replacing in 2015-16 at a cost of $170,000.
Once those replacements had occurred, the rural fire authority would have enough funding from its operational grants to make further replacements.
Dr Rotarangi also asked the council to continue funding its operating expenses.
The rural fire authority received $226,320 in 2014-15 from the council, one of six founding members that contributes to its annual operating budget.
''In that expenditure we have a depreciation amount for planned replacements from 1st of July going forward. What we haven't had is any of the accumulated depreciation for the fleet.''
The rural fire authority was formed on July 1, 2014, and took over the responsibility of replacing and maintaining the existing fleet.
The rural fire authority is the largest in New Zealand, and Otago is deemed the highest risk region.
In Clutha, the rural fire authority manages 417,743ha with six water tankers, one fire appliance, four light vehicles and 44 rural volunteers.
