By NIDRA KEWERE MAPI
THE NCD Fire Safety Department does not have the capacity to attend to most fires due to the city’s growth, a former member said.
And the situation is likely to be the same in other towns and cities in the country.
The former member, who declined to be identified, said its capacity had not been expanded to meet the demands, which has led to unnecessary deaths and losses.
He said he had raised the issue but to no avail.
He said that not only did firemen needed new and better protective clothing and breathing apparatus, but they did not even have enough at present.
He said the city’s growth in terms of population and economic activities had also increased the dangers for firemen.
“More training should be given,” he said, adding that their housing accommodations also needed great improvement.
He also lamented that the Fire Department had changed for the worse in terms of discipline and morale.
“There are too many disciplinary and management problems.”
A spokesman for the department, however, said they had in-house training similar to that in Australia and New Zealand.
“The training includes basic firefighting skills in breathing, operations and rescue,” he said.
“Most times specialised people often resign, and we have to train new people.”
He said there were also specialised courses when funds were available.
He agreed that there was a need to update policies and procedures.