LCC to build more fire stations
Published On February 14, 2014 » 3028 Views» By Davies M.M Chanda » Latest News, Stories
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By XAVIER MANCHISHI –
THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) has identified pieces of land in Chelstone, Chilenje and Makeni areas for construction of three fire stations to alleviate fire fighting challenges the local authority has been facing.
Government through the Local Government and Housing Ministry has already released K10 million for the three projects and works are expected to commence soon.
LCC assistant public relations manager, Brenda Katongola said the council in its effort to curb fires and other such emergencies decided to increase the service areas in the city considering the long distances and congestion on the roads that make it difficult to get to the accident scenes.
She explained that the Government recently procured fire appliances for the Council in an effort to enhance the fire brigade’s operations.
The Council’s fire brigade unit provides services in form of fire fighting, fire prevention and rescue operations which offers services for the residents of Lusaka and surrounding districts on a 24 hours basis daily.
Ms Katongola said due to the favourable environment for doing business which has been created by the Government, Lusaka has witnessed huge investment opportunities which growth has resulted in an increase in the risks which require the fire brigade to be adequately equipped to effectively respond when fire outbreaks out.
“Our capital city at the moment is undergoing progressive changes economically and socially due to the sound economic policies that the Government is implementing which are really unlocking the development potential of our greater city of Lusaka and the country as a whole,” she said in a statement.
She regretted previous incidences where members of the public have mistreated fire officers, sometimes even going to the extent stoning them for arriving at an accident scene late due to proximity and other challenges.
The LCC assistant public relations manager appealed to members of the public to inform the fire brigade on time and use the toll free line 993 on both landline and mobile networks and discouraged them from making of false alarm calls.
She said the fire brigade does not only respond to emergency fire calls, but has other responsibilities such as rescue operations of persons trapped in buildings, extrication of accident victims and rushing them to nearest medical facilities and rescuing people from wells, quarries and pit latrines, including corpses.
Ms Katongola said other services the fire brigade unit provides include saving property in an event of fire, conducting salvage operations to building contents not involved in fire; conducting fire safety awareness programmes in designated premises, preventing the
outbreaks of fire or fighting the fire in its incipient stage by the occupants thereby reducing damage to property.

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