It has been a week since fire had raged through Haunubada village destroying 15 homes, 2 days later another three homes were also destroyed by fire.
Fire Stations at Waigani, Boroko and Downtown attended to the raging flames, however, were also attacked.
Waigani Fire Service Station Commander Superintendent, Arieyefe Farapo, told EMTV news that two firemen were assaulted and fire trucks vandalised in the initial stages of attempting to prevent the fire from spreading.
Apart from the two fire service officers were assaulted, equipment were also damaged and stolen.
Items include 10 metres of the reel hose were cut, the stand pump that is used to access fire hydrants, and fire extinguishers.
At one point villagers, frustrated with the spreading blazes, got into the fire truck while the water pumps were on and tried to move the truck.
“This could have caused severe damages to the fire truck something Waigani Fire Station commander hopes can be avoided,”
Superintendent Farapo said he understood that it was an anxious time for home owners but asked the public to always allow the fire service to use there equipment to put out the fire.
The fire service has always been under public scrutiny when it comes to fire emergency, but most equipment’s and the trucks can only be repaired overseas and cost the fire department in the thousands.
