Fire Service tries to locate useable fire hydrants

THE PNG Fire Service (PNGFS) is trying to determine the number of fire hydrants that are still accessible to firemen in Port Moresby.
Fire chief Bill Roo told The National that many hydrants were inaccessible due to road works and building constructions.
“While conducting inspections, we are also cleaning and doing maintenance work on the hydrants,” he added.
Roo said the inspections would also help firemen locate the hydrants during emergencies.
He said the Department of Planning and the National Capital District Commission should work with PNGFS so that fire hydrants were strategicallylocated when an area was being developed.
“The most densely populated Nine Mile and Taurama in the city do not have any fire hydrant. This is serious.
“It is something for city planners to consider seriously and minimise damage and losses whenever there is a fire,” he added.
Roo also said that although firemen had faced some difficulties in the past, “we have delivered our best in fire-fighting”.
“We will be recruiting about 50 new officers. We have 19 fire engines, nine donated by China and six by Japan.
“We also have four old engines that are still in service,” he said, adding that five engines would be sent to Mt Hagen, Goroka, Lae and Madang fire stations.”
Roo said: “We are also taking proactive steps to address some issues following the devastating blaze that razed business houses in Boroko last year, and Konedobu fire that claimed lives and many houses in Hanuabada Village.
“We are now sending out firemen to visit homes in Waigani, and then proceed to cover all of the National Capital District. We want to raise public awareness, through education, on the need to ensure that their homes are not fire hazards.”
Roo said the PNGFS was also linked to a call centre equipped with a Hetaera and High Com radio connecting to the police and the St John’s Ambulance.
“This centre will help coordinate information and response during emergencies,” he added.
The PNG Fire Services received K28.5 million in this year’s national budget.