On Wednesday about 3.30pm, passing Roslyn firefighters noticed smoke billowing from the Roslyn scout hall in School St, Kaikorai.
The fire quickly engulfed the structure and more firefighters and resources were called to assist.
Due to a "pretty significant" oil leak, Dunedin’s front-running aerial appliance is off the road. In its place, an almost 40-year-old ladder truck was sent to the blaze.
"We’ve got an internal advisory on that truck that we not use it in the method that it was used on Wednesday," New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) Dunedin secretary and Senior Firefighter Mike Taylor said.
He said when extended the ladder was on a lean — because of that, they did not like to keep firefighters at the top of it.
"It’s potentially risky."
Because of the size, location and difficulties getting water on top of the blaze they "had to do it anyway".
"The officers on the day made the call to use it — they did a risk assessment and decided that it was worth using it, because that was the only way that we were going to get water on to the fire from where we were."
SF Taylor said the incident showed how they had to just keep "making do".
He said the incident once again highlighted the urgent need for a new aerial appliance.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) had ordered five new trucks as part of an emergency procurement, but Fenz kept pushing back the date of when they would be rolled out, he said.
Fenz National Commander Megan Stiffler said the Otago District leadership team had "no awareness of any internal advisory as claimed" and the relief ladder truck was used with "great effect".
"We expect to have Dunedin’s new heavy aerial truck delivered by mid-2026 — it is important to note ... they then must go through fit-out and training before they can be operationally deployed.
"That process can be a couple of months, and we do not have an exact timing."
She said Fenz acknowledged they had an ageing fleet, but it was all "well-maintained, safe, certified and legally compliant".
