The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union says the delay in battling the blaze that ripped through a historic North Shore school building falls squarely on Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
The heritage-listed sports pavilion at Northcote College was destroyed in a blaze that broke out while firefighters were on strike this lunchtime.
A video taken from the school’s field showed large flames shooting from the burning block and plumes of black smoke billowing into the air.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
A local board member is calling the incident “a real blow” after years of construction disrupting the school.
Kaipātiki local board member and Northcote College ex-student Paula Gillon said she was devastated by the blaze.
“As a past pupil of the college, I’m absolutely devastated about the fire. That building is a heritage building, and it’s a real blow to the community coming a year before they celebrate their 150-year anniversary,” she said.
Gillon said after spending years dealing with building works, this fire was a “massive setback”.
Earlier today, the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) confirmed in a social media post that it would be striking from between noon and 1pm.
Fire and Emergency said crews were alerted to a fire at the college at 12.17pm today.
They said the Silverdale Fire Brigade was the first crew to arrive at the scene at 12.29pm.
Fire and Emergency said it took volunteer crews 30 minutes to travel to the scene, compared with the usual time of about seven minutes.
It accused the union of “gambling with the public’s safety” and urged future strikes be called off.
NZPFU vice-president Martin Campbell said the school fire is “yet another failure for Fire and Emergency New Zealand”.
Campbell said today’s delay “falls squarely” on Fire and Emergency.
“Despite nearly 19 months of bargaining, [Fire and Emergency] have failed to provide a fair and reasonable offer to NZPFU membership.
“Volunteer firefighters did an amazing job containing the fire until the arrival of career firefighters with specialist capabilities.
“Our volunteers shouldn’t have to be placed in this position by Fire and Emergency,” Campbell said.
A Northcote College spokesperson said they were sad to have lost the oldest building on the school site.
College students and parents received an email this afternoon, in which the school said it was proud of the way students and staff responded.
“We know there will be some upset young people after today’s event. We will have counsellors on site tomorrow between 9-11am to support as needed,” the email said.
The school said support will also be available in the coming days and weeks.
“Some students left school today without their bags because of the evacuation,” the email read.
One student told the Herald the evacuated classes were initially lined up on the field but were moved to the courts when the fire began to spread.
He said teachers had been calm during the evacuation but “were starting to get really stressed when they realised the fire was getting big”.
The student said he had heard multiple pupils report that the fire started in the toilets of the old gym.
Auckland councillor Richard Hills said it was sad to see another fire at the school.
“It will be hugely upsetting to students, staff and school whānau, especially as they’re just getting back to normal, after the previous fire, and recent opening of new and upgraded buildings post-construction,” Hills said.
The latest fire comes nearly 12 years after a devastating blaze destroyed the college’s technology block (E block) in September 2014.
That fire was discovered by a security guard shortly before 8pm.
One student told the Herald she, along with many others, had schoolwork inside the burning building.
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