Give funds for fire stations

 MOROBE Governor Kelly Naru wants the Government to release K100 million parked under Lae’s grants commitments to build two more fire stations.

Lae, the country’s industrial city, has recently seen a number of its iconic shops gutted by fires. 

These include G4S, Niugini Wholesale Drug, Brian Bell Home Centre, Pelgens, Transparts International and Datec PNG.

In a statement yesterday, he requested Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to “release the K100 million in the industrial city funds so we can build two new fire stations for Lae”.

“As a growing city, our need for new fire stations, equipment and personnel is greater now than ever before,” Naru said.

Naru said the fire incidents in Lae had affected business confidence and workers’ morale.

“Pointing fingers at the fire service is not going to solve our fire problems,” Naru said.

“We need action now to guard against fires and we need new fire stations, new equipment and more personnel.”

The city has only one fire station with three old fire engines.

Naru called on Civil Aviation Minister Steven Davies and Defence Minister Fabian Pok to ensure fire services provided by Civil Aviation Authority and PNG Defence Force at Igam were upgraded so that they could assist the city’s fire service.

“In times like these, we need all emergency services working together and supporting each other,” Naru said.

Naru has called on business houses in the city and the residents to be vigilant and take precautions against fire hazards, including electrical faults.

“Every person is an agent of fire suppression and should therefore immediately report or raise alarm when he or she sees smoke and suspects a fire,” Naru said.