Setting up of Kundiawa fire station progressing

PLANS for a fire station in Kundiawa is underway with a fire engine ready to be shipped to Chimbu. Simbu Governor Michael Dua, acting provincial administrator Sebastian Kee and a delegate from the Simbu government were there to receive the fire engine from the PNG Fire Service. Chief Fire Officer Bill Roo, during the presentation on Wednesday, said the handover of the fire engine was to honour the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed earlier with Dua to see the Government agency expand its services in the province. “The fire services is proud to see the Simbu government coming on board and assisting with meeting the shipping cost of the fire engine at K24,000,” he said. Roo said a plot has allocated in Kundiawa by the Government towards the construction of the fire station, the accommodation for the firemen and the new fire station commander will be posted soon. “The fire services can provide the manpower and other necessary capacity within our means required to get a fire station build but funding is limited to enable us to expand and maintain our operational capabilities in the other provinces,” he said. “We are encouraging stakeholders, including provincial governments, to step in and assist with sharing costs and other resources to support the function and operations of the fire services by initiating joint partnerships through MoUs. “With the support of key stakeholders on the ground and the provincial governments to help share costs and resources, we can work together or partner to expand the fire services operation throughout Papua New Guinea.” Dua said the fire engine would not only help in fire-fighting, help with road accident casualties and in save and rescue operations during disasters. “Having fire services in the province would help minimise damages to properties,” he said. “The signing of the MoU is timely as Chimbu is seeing a boom in property and infrastructure development, business investments that need emergency response services.”