'Heroes and legends': Firefighters battling SkyCity blaze praised for tireless efforts

Wednesday, 23 October 2019

Legends, heroes, and hard workers - these are the praises being sung for the firefighters working tirelessly to extinguish the blaze at SkyCity.

The SkyCity convention centre fire raged in Auckland's city centre for more than 24 hours, and counting, after being sparked on Tuesday.

More than 100 firefighters were desperately trying to extinguish the flames on Wednesday, as they pumped up to 200 litres of water per second onto the site.

Some firefighters were pictured at the site tired, coated in soot and wearing breathing apparatus. On Wednesday, a firefighter was hospitalised after part of the building collapsed.

Kiwi firefighters are being praised by many, including the prime minister, for their tireless efforts as they battle the SkyCity convention centre fire.

Firefighters carrying breathing apparatus leave the fire at the Skycity Convention centre as emergency services attempt halt the spread of a multi-storey fire.

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About 100 firefighters have been battling the fire at SkyCity on Wednesday.

Firefighters using breathing apparatus were pictured outside the Sky City Convention centre.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern acknowledged their efforts while visiting Auckland's CBD.

Day two of the Auckland's SkyCity convention centre fire.

Ardern said: 'The team on the ground have been incredibly professional and very, very focused doing what they can to preserve the building.'

She said Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) had been working under 'some pretty difficult conditions and circumstances'.

Firefighters continue to battle the blaze in Auckland.

It's been a long 24-hours for Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

The team on the ground have been 'from what I can see incredibly professional, and very very focused. We are all very grateful that this far the focus has been on preserving safety of those working in and around the site.'

A lone firefighter is pictured with a portable extinguisher battling the blaze.

FENZ posted a video of Arden which showed her speaking to many of the firefighters whose shifts were ending.

'They are doing an incredible job. It's a pretty complex environment down there…'

'We are lucky to have the people that we have working in Fire and Emergency and further proof of it today.'

Auckland mayor Phil Goff also hailed the fire crews on Twitter, saying: 'It's amazing to see the firefighters still battling away more than 24 hours on. A big shout out to all of our emergency staff who are working around the clock.'

People from all over the country have also been acknowledging the long hours emergency service workers have been putting in.

On Twitter, Jacqui wrote: 'Shout out to our amazing firefighters working incredibly hard for 24hrs now to get the SkyCity Convention Centre roof fire under control. Legends!'

Another person called them 'absolute heroes'.

Another woman said they were: 'Praying for the safety of everyone in the city, especially the firefighters! Praying this will soon be over…'

While Victoria said: '… Thanks to those firefighters who fought the blaze through the night to try and get the fire to die down.'

SkyCity also posted online, saying: 'We would like to express our enormous appreciation for all the firefighters and emergency services who have been, and continue, to fight the fire and assist us.'

While National's Simon Bridges posted on Twitter saying: 'I visited the SkyCity Convention Centre recently and spoke to workers who were so proud of what they'd built. They will be devastated. Thinking of them and of course our firefighters who are working to get this under control.'