NFA applauded for raising its services to a new level

Currently the National Fire Authority has 18 fire stations and is expanding its footprint throughout the country.

The handing over of a new ambulance to the National Fiji Authority’s Nadi base marks an important medical provision for its services in the Western division.

This handing over comes just after a week when an ambulance was handed to NFA’s Savusavu Station in Vanua Levu

At the handover ceremony Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said that the inclusion of this new ambulance to NFA’s current fleet was a timely one as it had further enhanced NFA’s presence. Currently NFA has 18 fire stations and is expanding its footprint throughout the country hence its ambulance services will similarly be within reach to assist all those in need of such services.

The NFA carries out a very important role in our community.

NFA’s role has also evolved throughout the years from primarily being responsible for fire response to responding to other emergencies like ambulance services, road accident rescue, hazardous material operations, urban search and rescue, flood water rescue and responding and working closely with other agencies including the National Disaster Management Office during natural disasters.

Tragedies relating to fires are very painful and the losses often enormous. The direct fire losses per year in Fiji, if valued, run into millions and millions of dollars. Disruptions to businesses and family lives are direct outcomes of fires.

NFA workers save lives and properties.

And Government will continue to work closely with NFA for the provision of better emergency management services to the communities.

Other stakeholders should also partner with their local fire station and ensure preparedness, compliance and resilience of their business, property and investment against fire or any other disaster. The challenge to the NFA will be the reduction of its response time from 10 minutes to 5 minutes.

For this to happen, we must help NFA in whatever we can do to improve its service.

It has been confirmed that over the next few months, two new fire stations are due to be commissioned in Rakiraki and Nabouwalu, to further enhance the reach of Government services to rural communities, by way of basic essential services from the NFA. Fire and other emergency management services should be easily accessible to all Fijians and the opening of new fire stations will enhance the provisions of such services to all Fijians within their reach. NFA’s public awareness programme is applauded.

It has gone to schools to promote fire safety awareness.

NFA has definitely lifted its services to another level. It has come a long way and expanded its services to include medical emergencies and rescue operations. The increasing number of house fires indicates that people still ignore the advice from the NFA.

The NFA is doing all it can to help us stay safe. Let’s listen and follow its instructions for our own safety.