Firefighters have steadfastly backed a request to be trained in driving ambulances to alleviate staffing pressures at St John Ambulance Service.

WA United Professional Firefighters Union secretary Tim Kucera told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings the technical training of four dozen firefighters at St John’s Belmont headquarters had begun today in earnest.

“It’s a different vehicle to the vehicle that firefighters currently drive,” he told Bartlett.

“It’s more a familiarisation type [training], working out where everything is when they drive those vehicles.

“Firefighters work closely with St John Ambulance staff already, so they regularly attend road crash incidents together, industrial accidents, all those sort of things.

“Some of them already have had experience previously, both as paramedics but also driving ambulances in these sort of situations.”

Press PLAY below to hear more details about their training and its impact on our firefighting service