Japan donates fire trucks

TWO fire trucks worth more than K815,000 were donated to the PNG Fire Service by the Japanese Government in Port Moresby yesterday.
The two fully-equipped trucks have ladders and will be used to fight fires in tall buildings in the city.
PNG Fire Chief Bill Roo said such trucks were needed in a large city like Port Moresby that had many highrise buildings.
PNG Fire Service personnel were also trained by the Japanese government on how to operate the trucks.
Japanese Ambassador to PNG Satoshi Nakajima said the trucks and equipment were provided through funding from their grant assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project in the country.
“The ladders can reach up to four floors and will be essential for fighting fires in high rise buildings,” Nakajima.
Both trucks’ ladders can extend to over 30m and be used to hose down fires and rescue people.
Japan chief overseas cooperation programme officer Kazuhiro Morita told The National that the trucks were 20-years-old but fully functional and in good condition.
“It is for donation to countries that really need them and not for business purposes,”Morita said.
National Capital District Commission city manager Bernard Kipit said the partnership between the PNG Fire Service and Japanese government had been long and he thanked them for their support.
“Working together is very important to come up with a common goal and that is to fight fire,” he said.