Firefighters refused to use the truck after the incident on Tuesday so the Firefighters' Union took the "rare action" of blacklisting the vehicle, which carries the "jaws of life" rescue equipment used to cut crash victims from vehicles.

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.

The result is moisture dripping down from the ceiling tiles.

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.

Authorities confirm they have located the stolen squad truck that was taken outside of Station 6 on Monday evening.

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.

At the same time, though, the cost of the truck will be about $197,000 less than the lowest price submitted to the city in November. That price, $1,146,716, was submitted by KME-Kovatch Organization, which will build the truck to the city's specifications.

In a written request to Common Council President James Noble, the mayor has asked lawmakers to authorize the extra $50,000 to purchase the tiller-type ladder truck to replace the current tiller truck, which dates to 1998 and breaks down often.

"The complexity of this decision is further compounded by the fact that as time has gone on, the price of the truck has steadily increased," the mayor said in the written request to the council president, his uncle. "It is based on this, as well as our [fire] department's need to replace the failing truck, that I believe we must act soon in order to secure the most appropriate truck at an achievable price."

The mayor said that throughout the process, he has consulted with city Fire Chief Mark Brown and members of the Kingston Professional Firefighters Association, which supported the purchase of the tiller truck. The truck requires drivers at both the front and rear; a straight truck is driven only from the front.

The union has said the tiller truck has better maneuverability on city streets, especially around snowbanks in the winter.

The council three years ago authorized borrowing $900,000 to buy a new ladder truck, but Noble said that "based on the rising prices of this equipment, regardless of truck type or manufacturer, I must respectfully request an additional $50,000 so that we may finalize this purchase. Based on the research we have done, I believe this additional $50,000 will be necessary for any ladder truck we select."

Within the next two weeks, Noble and Brown will go to Lancaster, Pa., to conduct a visual inspection a ladder truck like the one that will be built for Kingston.