First fire station opened in Rehoboth
The Rehoboth town council opened its inaugural fire station on Monday.
Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni officiated the event.
Uutoni said during the 2016–2017 financial year, the ministry allocated approximately N$3.5 million to Rehoboth for the construction of a fire station.
He said local authorities, with oversight and financial support from government, have a legal duty to provide municipal emergency services, including fire brigade services, to enhance and safeguard the welfare of residents and their properties.
“To date, a total of 56 local authorities have benefitted from the support and capacity development programme, and the government, through the urban ministry, has spent over N$114 million specifically for the construction of fire stations,” Uutoni said.
Protect and serve
He said local authorities are legally mandated to ensure that fire stations and firefighting equipment are properly maintained and that firefighting personnel possess the required skills to carry out their work.
Uutoni urged local authorities to invest in the training of their personnel in order to ensure that there is capacity to respond to fire emergencies.
“As such, I am urging local authorities to take care of their firefighting vehicles and equipment. They should desist from using such vehicles for other purposes, such as routine transporting of people or allowing the emergency vehicles to be operated by untrained officials,” he stressed.
Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni officiated the event.
Uutoni said during the 2016–2017 financial year, the ministry allocated approximately N$3.5 million to Rehoboth for the construction of a fire station.
He said local authorities, with oversight and financial support from government, have a legal duty to provide municipal emergency services, including fire brigade services, to enhance and safeguard the welfare of residents and their properties.
“To date, a total of 56 local authorities have benefitted from the support and capacity development programme, and the government, through the urban ministry, has spent over N$114 million specifically for the construction of fire stations,” Uutoni said.
Protect and serve
He said local authorities are legally mandated to ensure that fire stations and firefighting equipment are properly maintained and that firefighting personnel possess the required skills to carry out their work.
Uutoni urged local authorities to invest in the training of their personnel in order to ensure that there is capacity to respond to fire emergencies.
“As such, I am urging local authorities to take care of their firefighting vehicles and equipment. They should desist from using such vehicles for other purposes, such as routine transporting of people or allowing the emergency vehicles to be operated by untrained officials,” he stressed.
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