NFA Commissions 15 Fire Wardens For Bulileka

Fifteen fire wardens from Bulileka community in Labasa were commissioned by the National Fire Authority (NFA) on Friday.

They will be the eyes and ears of NFA on the ground as part of its Integrated Community Fire and Emergency Response Framework.

Minister for Local Government Maciu Nalumisa said the framework was simply an integrated effort of the NFA, the private sector and local communities to enhance resilience towards fire and other emergencies.

“The framework essentially encourages behavioural change and genuinely-shared responsibility for emergency preparedness,” Mr Nalumisa said.

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“We want to build connections with communities and explore the opportunity for a truly communitycentered approach.”

He said community fire wardens would conduct fire safety inspections for every house in their community.

The compliance level of the home is illustrated by a small coloured sticker pasted on the front door of that house.

“A green colour sticker represents full compliance, amber represents semi-compliance and red represents non-compliance to fire safety,” Mr Nalumisa said.

“The launch of the framework in 2021 was the pinnacle of this initiation and the beginning of a five year programme to be rolled out in Fiji.

“The framework is expected to be rolled out to a total of 1193 villages and settlements that are under the ambit of 302 District Advisory Councils.”

Wardens

Having to train under the framework for almost a year, cohort commander Mikaele Richard said the wardens were youths who initiated a move that all other youths in communities across Fiji must consider.

“Having to join the framework, we have not only learn the proper way we must respond when there is a fire in our community,” he said.

The new fire wardens have built extra knowledge on the best to approach to save more houses or lives when it comes to fire.

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