Defence minister reveals plans to better equip all fire stations

DEFENCE Minister Saki Soloma has promised to make sure fire stations around the country are equipped with the resources and manpower as they play a major role in saving lives and protecting property.
Soloma said this in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, yesterday after officiating at the ground breaking ceremony for a K300,000 staff housing project funded by his department.
He promised to allocate more resources to equip and improve the capacity of fire stations in the country.
Soloma said with a rising population and major infrastructure development taking place, the PNG Fire Service needed to have the capacity to perform.
“As the minister responsible for the fire service I will be helping where I can.
“This organisation plays a very important role in protecting lives and properties and they must be equipped,” he said.
“It is about time we have to start recognising the work of firefighters in the country,” Soloma said.
Chief Fire Officer Bill Roo, who accompanied Soloma to Mt Hagen, said improving conditions for firefighters would allow them to do their jobs diligently and professionally.
Flash Koi from the Rumb Builders Construction said the project would be completed within three months with work scheduled to start next week.
He said was the biggest help under his command to promote his staffs to perform despite lacking the facilities.
Koi said it would be completed within three months with work scheduled to start next week.