The major overhaul of the five-storey tower was expected to be completed early in the new year, chief fire officer Steve Couper said. The tower had been due for refurbishment as part of the continued Fire and emergency New Zealand upgrade of the station.
The work under way included changing the siren to a modern standard, steelwork for support at the top, allowing better access to the winch used to haul hoses up to dry, installing a new switchboard at the bottom, cleaning, painting, and putting new floors down, and several health and safety upgrades, including new railings, and ‘‘auto shuts’’ on the doors, so they close after firefighters go through them.
The tower was used for a variety of training exercises, such as rescue training, where firefighters in breathing apparatus simulated rescues in multi-storey buildings.
