Fire chief issues reminder on safe habits

By PISAI GUMAR
MOROBE Fire Service Commander Supt Bal Kenna is urging people to take fire protection, safety and emergency measures seriously in light of the industrial boom in the city.
“It includes hotels, motels, taverns, hostels, guest houses, duplexes, clubs, supermarkets, trade stores, kai bars, schools, hospitals and homes, even in settlements,” Kenna said.
He said the allure of liquefied natural gas and other mining projects on the mainland had seen an increase in business activities in all corners of Lae city with little consideration for fire safety measures.
“An emergency can strike anyone anytime, anywhere, and all public and private property, including family homes, should be secured with fire protection and safety measures.”
He said all buildings should comply with physical planning and building board directives and should have fire exits, be equipped with extinguishers, hose reels, smoke detectors and alarms.
“Preventing fire is everybody’s responsibility. Employees of public and private companies should be trained with basic skills on how to react during emergencies,” he said.
“School pupils and hospital patients must be aware.”
He said Lae city needed a public fire emergency drill strategy set in place while each public and private organisation should have workplace fire emergency drills.
He warned people to beware when engaging unskilled private fire service companies installing fire safety equipment on their property.
“You need to screen their fire skills in safety standards, training, safety instructions, recharging, compliance and consistencies in inspections and training to the staff of respective clients they service,” Kenna said.
He noted that the width of roads in Lae were “narrower due to huge traffic increase” which caters for fuel tankers and highway truck as well. 
“We are yet to experience an oil spill at our seafront or a collision or explosion of fuel tankers, which we are ill-prepared for,” Kenna said.
The fire service was established under the Fire Service Act of 1962, with a core purpose to ensure its citizens are safe from fire and other hazards.
Its mission is to reduce risk and effects of fire and emergencies on human life, protect people and property by providing “effective and efficient fire preventive measures but people and organisations neglect to utilise the service until fire occurs then people scurry around blaming fire service”, Kenna said.