Thirty-five firefighters passed-out at Royal Fiji Navy’s Naval base in Togalevu today after completing 10 weeks of firefighter training.

Chief Guest Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation and Acting Minister for Local Government, Housing & Environment, Infrastructure, Transport Honourable Rosy Akbar congratulated the new recruits for successfully completing the ten weeks firefighter training.

“I am glad that you have all persevered the hard, challenging and difficult training since fire fighting is not a job for anyone but a calling for a special group of people, those who are prepared physically, mentally and spiritually, to run into burning buildings, respond to any emergencies, swim across flooded rivers and be prepared to sacrifice your own wellbeing for the safety of others.

“The National Fire Authority will entail you to carry out multiple tasks where at times you will perform the job of a fire-fighter in putting out a property fire or your services will be required out on the road attending to road accidents, or responding to hazardous material rescue operations, or working as paramedic officers among specialized skill and training that you have learnt during this ten weeks of training.

“I would like to thank the NFA Board and Management for carrying out many important developments in supporting the Fijian Government’s reforms and for reforming and changing the NFA.

“At the forefront of the NFA reform are the major developments in strengthening the NFA capacity in terms of fire trucks, equipment, fire stations and human capital.

“Improvements in areas such as the modernization in the NFA fleet, equipment and fire stations are NFA’s important priority areas so that NFA is able to deliver well up to peoples’ expectation.

The Minister also raised her concern on the number of property fires and made her plea to all Fijians is to join her to reduce the threat of property fires and road accidents in the country.

“Nearly every day we hear reports of fires along with road accidents in the media, from families and from relatives.

“I am deeply concerned on the spate of property fires and road accidents in our country. Sadly, many lives have been lost as a result of these disasters,” Minister Akbar said.

“A life lost cannot be replaced and we as a nation cannot sit and relax when we hear of people losing their lives in a fire or as a result of a road accident. Fires and road accidents should be everyone’s business and responsibilities and we need to tackle this together.

“We can do this by taking responsibility and accountability for our own safety and that of our families.

The Minister said that Government is working with NFA to ensure that NFA is able to meet the expectation of all Fijians and be able to make important changes in its service deliveries so that when a disaster happens, NFA is able to respond swiftly and mitigate such disasters.

“This year, the NFA had bought the first brand new ladder fire truck in Fiji from New Zealand. This ladder fire truck is the second brand new fire truck purchased this year following the purchase of a new multipurpose Scania fire truck last year.

“The construction of new fire stations this year is another important achievement for NFA under this reform to provide reach to our rural communities. The Korovou and Korolevu Fire Stations will be opened soon to provide important emergency services deliveries to the people of the two communities. NFA has commenced the constructions of the Savusavu, Seaqaqa and Taveuni Fire Station and these Stations are expected to be opened in the second quarter of next year,” Minister Akbar said.

“Next year, the work for the improvement in services deliveries continues for NFA. The Government has provided the National Fire Authority, $4 million in the 2016 National Budget for the purchase of fire trucks, ambulances; fire appliances, personal protective equipment and to build fire stations.

Minister Akbar added that the new Fire-fighters must realize that they have chosen a profession that makes them role models in their communities. When you rescue a child, the tone of the voice that you use, the kindness, the command, the understanding that you provide that child will either prepare him for the future without the trauma and scarring, or will scar him or her forever.

The Minister thanked the Commander Navy and his officers based at this Fiji Navy Training Base for allowing NFA to use this facility and the instructors in assisting prepare the recruits for this pass-out.

NFA Board Chairman Commander Francis Kean congratulated the new recruits and welcomed them into the NFA.