Fire and Rescue Force to get helicopter, 150 vehicles

DODOMA: THE government is set to procure a helicopter to enhance the efficiency of the Fire and Rescue Force during emergency response operations.

Additionally, it is implementing a project to acquire 150 fire-fighting vehicles for nationwide distribution.

Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Innocent Bashungwa, told the House yesterday that the government was fully committed to continuing modernising the fire and rescue force by purchasing equipment.

He was responding to a supplementary question by Ngorongoro Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Shangai (CCM) who had wanted to know the plans in place to avert fire disasters occurring in his constituency.

The MP further wanted to know if there were plans so far to provide modern training to the Fire and Rescue Force in Ngorongoro so as to have enough skills to control fire incidents.

According to him, the government was keen enough to control fire incidents as he gave an example of the recent incident in the Rukwa Region where a military helicopter was used to rescue citizens.

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He noted that plans were in pipeline to purchase a helicopter that will be handed over to the Fire and Rescue Force in efforts to boost rescue operations.

He also directed the Commissioner General for Fire to roll out on-job training to the force countrywide including Ngorongoro District.

During his main question, the Ngorongoro lawmaker had wanted to know when the government would procure a motor vehicle for the Fire and Brigade Force in Ngorongoro district.

Responding, Mr Bashungwa said that currently, the government was implementing a project for procurement of several equipment for the force, among them 150 vehicles for extinguishing fire.

“Procurement procedures are being made via the Dubai based company NAFFCO FZCO and immediately after they arrive in the country, the motor vehicles will be distributed countrywide including Ngorongoro District”.