NFA honours the sacrifices of firefighters
International Firefighters Day is dedicated to recognise and remember the valued contributions of our firefighters around the world.
The National Fire Authority (NFA) in a celebration at their Headquarters in Walu Bay yesterday recognised and honoured the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible.
The NFA chief executive officer, Puamau Sowane expressed his gratitude to all the current and past firefighters for their selfless contributions in keeping our communities fire-safe. In doing so, Mr Sowane asked the firefighters to remember their fellow fire officers and firefighters who had passed on whilst in service.
INTERNATIONAL FIREfiGHTERS Day celebratio
The NFA also celebrated the brave exploits of a number of firefighters in the line of duty.
These include former QFF Ratu Seru Cakobau, who displayed immense courage to save the MH Company Secretary during a fire at the Carpenters Walu Bay distribution centre in April 2018.
Mr Sowane said his selfless act exemplified the typical life of a firefighter who responds without hesitation to any emergency call. Sub Officer Norman Francis was awarded the Fire Service Meritorious Medal for his role with the NFA Rescue Team in the retrieval of the two pilots who lost
their lives when their Cessna 172 Plane crashed into the mountains of Delaikoro in Labasa, Vanua Levu, in March 2018.
“Firefighting is a unique profession,” Mr Sowane said.
“Firefighters are trained to extinguish fires and otherwise rescue people and animals from dangerous situations.
“They respond to events including fires, floods, medical incidents and motor vehicle accidents, as well as situations involving hazardous materials, to assist people in distress.
“We must pay tribute to the people who had harnessed all the initiatives to recognise the hard work and sacrifices of all the Firefighters global family,” he said.
INTERNATIONAL DAY HISTORY FIREfiGHTERS
The International Firefighters Day was founded just 24 years ago after a tragic and horrific death of five firefighters in 1999 during a wildfire in Australia on December 2, 1998.
It was in 2002 on International Firefighters’ Day that the inaugural “Sound Off” was conducted to reflect on the commitment and sacrifices of firefighters worldwide in a truly emotional manner for emergency service workers.
Mr Sowane said perhaps this is a custom that we can also adopt in Fiji’s Fire Service.
“In recognising the special role that our Firefighters have in society, our efforts should also be focused towards ensuring that they are also provided with the necessary Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment that will enable them to effectively carry out their duties,” he said. Mr Sowane reminded the firefighters the need to understand their ultimate aim is to protect and save lives. “I want you to focus on sharpening your knowledge to be very strategic when you are out there carrying your duty.
“Your thinking should always be focused on how best you can master your skills and enhance your knowledge to be an effective and productive firefighter. “You can only fulfill your full potential here at the National Fire Authority if you have the ability to push yourselves beyond your limits.
“Your skills learnt over the past so many years would have developed you into a professional Career Firefighter or Fire Officer, and would have helped you grow into a disciplined, dependable and reliable person both to the National Fire Authority and to your family,” he said.
During the 100 years’ celebration for Fire Service here in Fiji, his Excellency the President had medaled 80 brave Firefighters across the division and we also honour them again for those brave acts in terms of rescue and saving lives and properties.
The production and awarding of Fire Service Medals is a new and milestone initiative that will now be an ongoing recognition and award system for all firefighters in Fiji.