Police’s director of fire and emergency response, Assistant Inspector General of Police –AIGP Joseph Mugisa, has urged firefighters to be useful individuals to society.
Mugisa has made the remarks today at the pass out of 10 police firefighters at the directorate headquarters at Clocker Tower at an event that was presided over by Chief of Joint Security –CJS Maj General Jack Bakashumba.
“As you all know fire and rescue services require a prepared mind, a prepared soul, requires skills to save body and determination and skills to put out a fire, knowledge to effect a rescue in an intricate situation and that’s what we trained them to do using high tech equipment, and ordinary but useful equipment to save a life by effecting a rescue,” AIGP Mugisa said.
Maj Gen Bakashumba noted that the course comes at the right time, putting the officers in a right position to handle challenges related to fire, with confidence in execution of tasks related to firefighting.
Maj Gen Bakashumba urged them to be disciplined and promised to present the challenges affecting the directorate before the police management and also called upon the officers to handle the equipment at hand with care.
Mugisa said during the four months, trainees were equipped with skills in escapement rescue, managing oil spillage, tackling a very complicated fire problem like a bulk petroleum storage installation, and firefighting in an air craft.
Firefighters reminded developers that put up hotels, shopping arcades, office building to be conscious of fire safety requirements and fire protection requirements of a building by realising that not a single building worthy its name is immune to a fire outbreak.
“Fire or any emergency can strike in any building of whatever name and nature. Therefore, the aspect of fire prevention and protection is critical and I appeal to any developer to liaise with any fire station nearest to you for technical guidance, to be guided on inclusion of fire protection systems in your building.
Mugisa assured the public that the fire service setup is arranged to respond immediately to emergencies. He said there is no time when the fire service can respond without the requisite ammunitions and that ammunition is water.
“The, I request town councils, municipals, to ensure that buildings that are developed are developed based on approved plans and that plan must have a very big component of fire protection and safety of the occupants. Fire hydrants should be in place and maintained,” he noted.
Police said it will continue training officers for purposes of enhancing human capacity and spread out to cover most parts of the country so that fire services are brought nearer to the people.