Union representative Toby Kerr said the truck involved was known as a pump rescue tender, which carried gear like the jaws of life, which was used to extract trapped people after accidents.
The truck had been a relief vehicle itself, and there wasn’t another available to replace it.
The nearest truck carrying extraction gear would now be responding to accidents in the central city from Avondale or Takapuna, Kerr said, which would “certainly cause a delay to any response in the city”.
Firefighters earlier told RNZ that they no longer have confidence in their ageing vehicle fleet, and fear it could let them down in life or death situations.
Others available: Commander
Fire and Emergency NZ Assistant Commander Barry Thomas said there were several other pump rescue tender fire trucks available for dispatch to central Auckland.
Nobody in the engine was injured in the crash, but it had to be towed to a service provider for repairs, Thomas said.
“Until it returns to service, five other pump rescue tenders from other parts of Auckland are available to be dispatched to any incidents requiring a specialist rescue response, with the Avondale and Takapuna engines being the closest.”
Fire and Emergency NZ was working to find a replacement fire truck as quickly as possible, he said.
– RNZ