By Merilyn Diau-Katam – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The PNG Fire Service has been notorious for its slow response time to fires in the nation’s capital, however, Fire Chief Officer, Isaac Silas, highlighted that the service is deprived of manpower and equipment.
“The service is currently awaiting a review by the government to improve funding and resource levels,” Silas said
Manpower and development planning are some of the challenges facing the PNG Fire Service department.
“If more fire stations are built in a 20 minute radius within commercial buildings level, they would have a better chance of saving them,” he said.
Out of 21 provinces, 10 provinces don’t have fire stations, while Port Moresby has only four fire stations to cover the whole of NCD.
A review of the fire service has been submitted to the national government but is on hold, due to a lack of funding.
Since May, there have been four major fires in the nation’s capital, with the most recent being a major supermarket branch, which is currently under investigation.
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