Dunedin Fire Brigade Restoration Society committee member Errol Thompson started with the South Dunedin fire station, now the St Kilda station, in January 1970.
He spent the early years of his career onboard the newly returned "Truck 32".
The truck had been kept in a field under a cover for the last nine years.
Despite this, it was in "really good nick" when it was transported back to Dunedin this week.
"We’ve got to be very grateful for the condition it is in.
"It’s not often you get them back in this condition."
After the South Dunedin station, the truck made its way to Ravensbourne about 1974.
Where it then ended up is a mystery, but it was sent to Ferrymead Heritage Park, in Christchurch, in 1989.
Depending on how the restoration society committee voted, Mr Thompson hoped it would be restored to its former operational glory.
"Somewhere around February we had our first large fire in the Savoy restaurant.
"I entered the building around the alleyway at the back of Moray Pl and climbed up a fire escape over ... a large long drop down into the basement of what was then DIC menswear.
"It was significant and we threw everything at it."
Mr Thompson responded to 120 fires in his first year in Truck 32.
Restoration society president Matt Jones said it was excited to get the truck back.
"We’re happy to get it back as part of our collection so we can restore it and get it fully operational.
"That’s the idea — to try and keep out history.
"It is really important."
