Firefighters have rescued a man from a burning house in Auckland.
The burnt Ōrākei house that a man was rescued from. Photo: NZ Professional Firefighters' Union
They had to smash their way into the Ōrākei house to save the man in his 20s, who was disorientated and could not get out, the Professional Firefighters' Union said.
He was taken to hospital by ambulance.
The interior of the burnt-out house. Photo: NZ Professional Firefighters' Union
Union national secretary Wattie Watson said in a statement that career fire fighters who saved the man came from the Parnell station, but there were not enough of them to staff it today.
The Parnell Station is one of the many stations in Tamaki Makaurau closed today by a lack of staff.
Union spokesman Martin Campbell said the man was very lucky in light of Fire and Emergency's resourcing problems.
Union members are taking industrial action as part of their campaign for better pay and conditions, but it affects administrative procedures, not emergency call-outs.
Campbell said efforts were being made to plug gaps in Auckland's fire and emergency resourcing today amid a wider staffing crisis.