Solomon Islands’ Fire and Rescue Department officers have been upskilled with advanced fire training from the New South Wales, Australia, Fire Services. (Photo Credit: RSIPF Official Facebook Page)

THE country’s Fire and Rescue Department officers have been upskilled with advanced fire training from the New South Wales, Australia Fire Services.

24 Fire and Rescue Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) completed two weeks of Fire and Rescue Training which include hot fire training that expose officers to real fires to learn about fire behaviours.

The training was facilitated by two NSW Fire Instructors under RAMSI capacity building programme.

Special Guest at the closing ceremony held on June 9, 2017 was the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Fire and Rescue Police New South Wales Mr Jim Hamilton.

Representing the RSIPF was Assistant Commissioner (AC) Gwen Ratu accompanied by RAMSI advisors.

Speaking during the closing Director of Fire, Superintendent Rodney Kuma said, “It is indeed a privilege for the RSIPF Fire officers to undergo such training, the first of its kind conducted since the RSIPF Fire Service was established.”

According to the RSIPF’s official Facebook page, Deputy Commissioner Fire and Rescue Police New South Wales, Jim Hamilton said in his speech, “As a fire fighters, this training provides you the skill to fight fires but also to educate our communities about the danger of fires and to teach them what to do when there is a fire. It is important to teach children in schools and others in their homes or workplace about how to prevent fires.”

AC Ratu urged the staffs of the Fire Service, “To the Director Fire Service and your officers, this training is just the beginning, unless you put into practice what you have learnt then it will be useful, otherwise it just another training.”

She thanked Deputy Commissioner Hamilton saying, “I am humbled to be here and receive on behalf of our force the gifts of fire tools and also to hear that New South Wales Fire will be donating more equipment and even a new fire vehicle. I hope the good relationship between NSW Fire and the RSIPF Fire will continue to grow.”

The closing of the programme was officially done by Deputy Commissioner Fire and Rescue Police New South Wales Mr Jim Hamilton.