Whether the Portobello Volunteer Fire Brigade will continue to respond to medical emergencies remains uncertain.
Some Otago Peninsula residents were concerned the brigade was no longer being called to certain incidents in a co-responder role to St John.
The New Zealand Fire Service was reviewing its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with St John, and Portobello chief fire officer Bruce Didham had made a submission to the Fire Service accordingly.
Mr Didham said it was important the somewhat isolated Otago Peninsula communities continued to be serviced by both fire and ambulance personnel.
''It is quite some distance and time before an ambulance from Dunedin, or Mosgiel on the odd occasion, arrives in our district, as the roads are winding and narrow in many places and often carry large numbers of tourists, campervans and buses.
''We usually arrive before a responding ambulance crew and are able to undertake some basic treatments and provide comfort and reassurance to patients,'' he said.
Many Portobello volunteer firefighters had completed pre-hospital emergency care courses and were trained to use a variety of medical equipment carried in the fire appliance.
Mr Didham and another brigade member were also qualified St John ambulance officers.
''We do not consider ourselves to be the ambulance service, but an organisation that is well trained and can make a difference in assisting our local communities on the Otago Peninsula,'' he said.
In response to Otago Daily Times questions, Fire Service assistant national commander Brian Butt said the Portobello brigade would continue to respond as it always had, at least until a new agreement with St John was established.
The MOU review aimed to make the response of fire brigades to medical emergencies more ''nationally consistent'', he said.
''Some brigades have become heavily committed to medical responses within their communities while others have little involvement. The intent is to provide a clearer and more consistent support response system within all communities.''
Mr Didham said the Portobello brigade was being represented by the United Fire Brigades Association, but had not been directly consulted in relation to changes.
''The Fire Service has, from time to time, provided some brief, general outlines on the progress of the MOU. We will not know the final outcome of the new MOU until later this year.''
He hoped any new arrangement would ''recognise the need'' to widen the number of brigades which undertook a first responder role nationally, and to assist with ongoing medical training for firefighters.
''I am also hopeful the new MOU will reflect the requirements we have on the Otago Peninsula to assist our local community.
''There is an obvious need in some areas due to their location or unique features to assist their communities with medical assistance until ambulance services can arrive.''
