However, this has become a thing of the past thanks to a United Kingdom-based organisation that has donated equipment and trained personnel.
Operation Florian, the UK-based fire and rescue services and humanitarian Organisation, last week handed over the equipment worth $46 000. It included breathing apparatus, road traffic accident equipment, fire fighting kits, protective clothing and general rescue equipment. The organisation also donated modern Information Technology Equipment to be used on accident scenes by the city’s fire fighters.
More importantly, five senior fire fighters from the city had the privilege of undergoing a rigorous two week long training programme in Bulawayo where they were taught how to use the new modern equipment. Since realignment in 1981, the local fire station had not had any new material to rescue victims of fire disasters or those trapped in traffic road accidents.
“In the UK we are lucky that we have the best fire services in the world, with some of the bravest and well-trained firefighters using the latest equipment,” reads part a statement by OF. “However, some other countries are not so fortunate, fire and Road Traffic Collisions still remain one of the biggest killers in some of the world’s poorest regions. We exist to save lives in these places.”
Emmanuel Musemwa, the Gweru council’s Chief Fire Officer, told The Zimbabwean that the donation would save lives and property.
“In the past our officers would arrive at a disaster scene and watch helplessly because we did not have the equipment to help them. Victims of road accidents trapped in their vehicles could also not be helped,” he explained. “We now have the capacity to rescue victims trapped in road accidents or fire incidents.”
Town Clerk Daniel Matawu said the donation had covered a gap that the cash-strapped council had failed to address.
Post published in: News