Africa-Press – Botswana. Councils need to equip fire-fighters with appropriate training and skills for them to be efficient, especially when carrying out complex rescue and salvage operations.
UniTrans manager Mr Kagiso Tshwene said this Friday when giving a keynote address at the end of of a 10-week Advance Firemanship Course for fire-fighters from around the country, held here.
Mr Tshwene said fire-fighting and rescuing operations had become more complex in today’s rapidly changing world, where rescue op
erations in high rise buildings, which were now commo-place, demanded top-notch skills from fire-fighters. “We have seen an increase in complex high rise buildings that need sophisticated fire-fighting skills.
Also, out there in the roads we have seen an increase in transportation of special goods, most of which are flammable. As such you need to have adequate equipment in terms of the skills set and also [appropriate] resources to be able to respond to these emergencies,” he said.
He commended Lobatse Town Council for staging the training. Lobatse mayor, Mr Mosimanegape Dithebe said fire-fighters played the important of safeguarding lives and property.
Mr Dithebe praised Lobatse fire-fighters for their level of professionalism when responding to fire outbreaks and other accidents. He regretted however, the fact they operated with limited resources due to shortage of funds from the council. Nonetheless, he said, the town council was in the process of buying another fire engine.
“I wish to encourage you to never despair even when you face challenging conditions. You should continue working with the professionalism and discipline you have always displayed even when working with limited resources,” he said.
Town Council chief fire officer, Mr Micah Seno explained that the function of fire and emergency services was suppression and containment of disaster, fire prevention and safety services as well as public education. Mr Seno said the training was therefore aimed at enhancing fire-fighters’ skills for their effectiveness in emergencies and protecting the public.
Lobatse deputy district commissioner, Mr William Keareng urged participants to go back to their stations and use their newly acquired skills to save lives and carry out salvage operations.
Mr Keareng called for well-coordinated strategies of managing and responding to disaster and accidents in the districts.
He said Lobatse was prone to fire outbreaks around the hills and therefore required a well resourced and skilled fire department. About 23 fire-fighters from various councils including Lobatse, Chobe, Sowa, South East, Kgalagadi, Mahalapye, Central and Tutume, participated in the Lobatse Town Council Sponsored training, which entailed theory and practical skills.
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