Damon and his family have created a GoFundMe page for the project to help pay for materials for the stand. If you'd like to donate, click here.

Northern branch secretary Boyd Raines said the union believed the risk to firefighters and the public posed by the appliance was high.

It was the first time in 20 years that firefighters had blacklisted an appliance due to safety concerns.

Raines said there had been a spate of issues with the new fleet of MAN-branded fire trucks since they were brought in last year.

The German trucks were imported then fitted with necessary equipment like pumps by Lower Hutt company, Fraser Fire and Rescue, he said.

The union had received more the 200 complaints about the trucks, including doors not opening, trucks slipping out of gear and trucks not starting.

Raines said there were similar issues with other trucks in the Auckland City fleet and across the country.

The union was discussing the next steps with the fleet's management

Fire service communications shift manager Paul Radden said the truck was blacklisted on Tuesday and was not currently being used.

A spare truck had been brought in to replace it.

City Council on Tuesday discussed the air conditioning problem that bedevils both new houses.

City Attorney Tyrone Cooper said, "Folks are trying to figure out what the fix should be."

The fire houses cost about $11 million apiece to build and are expected to remain in service for more than 50 years.

Architectural Alliance vice president Rob Clark, who designed the structures, calls them "monument buildings."

However, the heating, ventilating and cooling contractor might not have designed and installed the units properly, City Manager Kyle Hayes has said.

While firefighters at Station No. 2 are living with their problem, the new Station No. 11 remains unoccupied at Park and Royal streets. The existing Station No. 11 on Sabine Pass Avenue remains in service, even though the city agreed last month to sell the property to a private buyer.

The Midland Fire Department took to social media asking the public to help them find the stolen Chevy 3500 squad truck Tuesday morning.

The truck was found around 11 a.m., just east of North Fairgrounds Road, near Copus Street, after witnesses spotted the vehicle.

We're told the squad truck had sustained significant damage.

Midland Police are continuing their investigation into the incident.

Midland Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest in the case.