Firefighters across New Zealand say they no longer have confidence in their ageing vehicle fleet, fearing the outdated trucks could fail them in life-or-death situations.
While Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) insists that new trucks are on the way and the current fleet is well maintained, many firefighters say they are struggling to cope with constant mechanical issues. The Professional Firefighters Union has announced further industrial action, arguing that FENZ needs to act faster to ensure safety and reliability, RNZ reported.
On Guy Fawkes night, one of the busiest times of the year, one of Auckland’s largest fire crews was forced to operate a 29-year-old relief truck, a temporary replacement for their aerial vehicle currently under repair. The older truck lacks the mechanical ladder essential for high-rise rescues,
Veteran firefighter Cameron Graham, with 16 years of service, said working with ageing and unreliable trucks had become routine. “I’ve been at a fire where the pump stopped working. It was a 32-year-old truck. We have to have confidence in our gear. If it fails, it could cost a firefighter’s or a public member’s life,” he said, RNZ reported.
Union representative Toby Morris said the situation was the worst he had seen in his 25-year career. “Our fleet was in crisis three years ago; it’s even worse now. Many of the relief trucks are also failing,” he said, reported RNZ.
Morris explained that Auckland’s busiest fire station is using one of the newest trucks in the country, but even that is nine years old. “We’re supposed to have trucks no older than three years. Instead, we’re getting vehicles meant for much quieter stations,” he added.
Firefighters described daily frustrations with frequent repairs and limited confidence in their equipment. One firefighter, Ants, said, “It’s expected now. We have no confidence in our gear because of constant failures. The public ultimately face the consequences when our trucks break down.”
The issue reached Parliament last week when ACT Party leader David Seymour cited FENZ data suggesting only one recent breakdown delayed a fire response. However, Seymour later retracted the statement, saying FENZ had admitted a “miscommunication.”
FENZ deputy national commander Megan Stiffler acknowledged that truck faults are reported regularly, but said it doesn’t mean breakdowns occur daily. “We’ve replaced 317 trucks since 2017, and 78 more are in the pipeline. Auckland City will receive one of the new appliances soon,” she said, adding that all trucks are on a strict maintenance and repair schedule, as reported by RNZ.
Despite reassurances, firefighters remain unconvinced, warning that without urgent upgrades, New Zealand’s emergency response capability could be at risk.
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