The National Fire Authority has announced that there is still a significant shortfall of firefighters across the nation.
CEO Sowane Puamau indicated that with approximately 605 firefighters currently in service, the organization plans to hold another recruitment drive later this year. “We will be having another recruit shortly, in October. We still have a shortfall of firefighters around the country,” Puamau stated.
He also noted that budget constraints limit the number of new hires. Puamau emphasized the need for additional personnel to effectively manage fire services in Suva, Labasa, and Lautoka.
“The recruitment of new firefighters depends on the number of fire trucks we have and the size of our stations. We have categories A to C, and each category requires more manpower to manage,” Puamau explained.