A vacant house in Ōtara has been extensively damaged by fire, with an adjacent unit also affected, in a blaze that broke out during a nationwide firefighters' strike on Friday afternoon.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) began receiving multiple calls about the fire in the single-level property at 12.32pm. Five fire trucks were ultimately required to bring the blaze under control.
Upon arrival, crews found the duplex well-involved, with flames spreading from the primary dwelling to the adjoining unit. Fortunately, FENZ confirmed there were no reports of anyone being inside the vacant properties, preventing a more tragic outcome.
Industrial action delays career firefighter response
The response to the fire was complicated by a one-hour strike by members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters' Union (NZPFU), which was taking place at the time the first calls were made.
This industrial action is part of a broader, long-running dispute between the union and FENZ over staffing levels, low wages, and working conditions, which the union argues are impacting the health and safety of its members and the public. An external report from the NZ Herald notes these national strikes have been occurring intermittently as negotiations continue.
As a result of the strike, career firefighters did not immediately attend the Ōtara scene. In a statement, FENZ regional manager Ron Devlin confirmed the initial response was handled by management personnel.
The District Commander and two Assistant District Commanders responded while awaiting volunteers to respond.
Mr Devlin said the command unit personnel arrived to find a challenging situation unfolding. "They found the first dwelling well alight and the fire spreading to the adjoining dwelling," he says.
Volunteer crews mobilised from across region
With career staff unavailable, FENZ relied on its network of volunteer brigades to tackle the fire. Crews from as far as Laingholm, Pokeno, and Clevedon were mobilised to travel to Ōtara.
The response highlights the critical role that volunteer firefighters play in New Zealand's emergency infrastructure, particularly during periods of industrial action or when resources are stretched. These volunteers commit significant personal time to training and responding to emergencies in their communities and, as in this case, in neighbouring districts.
The arrival of these volunteer crews was crucial in preventing the fire from causing further damage to surrounding properties in the densely populated suburb.
Following the conclusion of the one-hour strike, career crews from the Ōtara and Ōtāhuhu stations were dispatched to the scene to take over operations and begin the final process of fully extinguishing the fire and securing the site.
Fire adds to challenges in South Auckland
The incident is another reminder of the risks posed by fires in urban areas. While this particular fire in a brick and tile style unit did not result in injuries due to the property being vacant, fires in residential areas can have devastating consequences for families and the wider community. Housing availability and safety are significant concerns for many in South Auckland. For the local community of Ōtara-Papatoetoe, the loss of any housing stock, even if unoccupied at the time, represents a strain on resources. The area has previously faced significant challenges including being disproportionately affected by issues like illegal dumping, placing continued pressure on council and community services, in a similar vein to the issues covered in the ultimate SoHo shopping guide.
This fire is one of several across Auckland in recent months that have required major responses from FENZ, including incidents in Mt Roskill, Takanini, and a Kāinga Ora apartment block in the central city. Each incident underscores the daily risks that firefighters, both career and volunteer, confront in their roles.
The cause of the Ōtara fire is not yet known and an investigation will be undertaken to determine its origin. With the fire now extinguished, the focus will shift to the investigation and securing the damaged duplex.
