Taupō-nui-a-Tia College fire: Mechanical failures delayed response, union says

Firefighters climbing on to roofs with hoses may look heroic, but the practice carries significant risk, New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union vice president Martin Campbell says.

Fire crews battling the fire at Taupō-nui-a-Tia College yesterday were forced to improvise after mechanical failures made some trucks inoperable during the response, the firefighters’ union says.

The New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union said that two fire trucks, including a crucial ladder truck, failed as firefighters battled the blaze, which sent smoke across Taupō.

The fire destroyed a block housing 13 classrooms, as well as the Bay Trust health services, yesterday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the scene about 2.15pm, with crews from across the region responding.

A video shared on social media shows Rotorua’s ladder truck malfunctioning while deployed, forcing Fire and Emergency to dispatch the high-reach aerial unit based in Hamilton.

The aerial unit took almost two hours to arrive, union vice president Martin Campbell told the Waikato Herald.

“The officer was having to adapt his tactics and do what he could.”

The other truck, from Tauranga, suffered a mechanical failure and had to turn around before it made it to the scene, he said.

Firefighters climbing on to roofs with hoses may look heroic, but the practice carried significant risk, Campbell said.

“That’s the kind of ridiculous situation we’re operating under.

“Firefighters having to risk their lives, and those sort of things.”

Despite the challenges, Campbell praised the Taupō crew, noting the station had just one career crew.

“Given the resourcing and staffing they had at the time, they did an outstanding job,” he said.

“Credit to them for stopping the fire where they did while working under real constraints.”

The delay in response time also gave the fire more time to spread, Campbell said.

“This delay was nearly a two-hour wait.”

Campbell said the situation raised questions about how Fire and Emergency’s levy funding was allocated.

“Fire and Emergency receives close to $800 million a year through fire levies, but it’s hard to see that being reflected on the front line,” he said.

“Our equipment is failing.”

Fire and Emergency was approached for comment.

Crews working to extinguish the remains of Taupō-nui-a-Tia College. Photo / Les Wills / Taupo Noticeboard

Firefighters in Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, Whanganui, Whangārei and Auckland have complained about the age of their vehicle fleets and problems such as breakdowns and pump failures.

Police have charged two youths with arson. They were due to appear in the Taupō Youth Court this week.

Taupō-nui-a-Tia College principal Ben Claxton said the campus suffered significant damage and would be closed until Thursday while assessments were completed and the site made safe.

“The well-being of our students and staff is our absolute priority,” Claxton said.

Tom Eley is a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. Before he joined the Hamilton-based team, he worked for the Weekend Sun and Sunlive. He previously worked as a journalist in Canada for Black Press Media and won a fellowship with the Vancouver Sun.