One of Auckland’s busiest fire stations has been closed after dust samples tested positive for asbestos.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler said the result was a consequence of testing at the Pitt St station, which took place in July.
“This is a result we were not expecting,” Stiffler said, saying the organisation was “disappointed”.
“The safety and well-being of our firefighters is of the utmost importance to us, and the station has been closed.
“We have arranged precautionary air monitoring and swab testing around the station.”
Stiffler said this testing would take place today.
A Fire and Emergency official said it was “a result we were not expecting”. (Source: 1News)
She said Fire and Emergency has “no reason” to believe there had been any spread of asbestos beyond the initial rooms since it was removed in September last year.
Auckland City Fire Station Senior Station Officer Michael Manning told 1News the presence of asbestos was “extremely dangerous” to firefighters and the public.
“Our crews needed to go through a deliberate decontamination process. Our station was shut with all equipment inside and our staff were evacuated off site.”
Manning said the Pitt St station closure is expected to be a “medium- to long-term thing”, and they are uncertain when firefighters will be able to return.
The station was previously out of action in 2023 after asbestos was discovered during renovation work.
Once used frequently in construction, asbestos can cause disastrous health effects, including lung scarring, asbestosis and cancer.
