WINDHOEK – The new fire station in Otjomuise situated next to the road from Otjomuise to Monte Christo in Windhoek, was officially commissioned by the mayor of Windhoek, Agnes Kafula.
The Otjomuise fire station is testyimony to the many efforts by the municipal authorities in the capital to bring services closer to where people live. According to Kafula the City of Windhoek carried out an emergency risk assessment in 2004 in response to the increasing fire and emergency risks in the burgeoning informal settlements on the outskirts of Windhoek. Results of the assessment revealed that the city needed at least three additional fire stations to be located at strategic sites. The Otjomuise site was prioritized based on the high level of vulnerability, high risk and its distance from existing fire-fighting facilities. “It is commonly known that failure to provide appropriate, timely and well organised responses to the wide variety of emergencies that occur in the city has life threatening or fatal consequences,” said Kafula.
The location of the fire station will provide quick and easy access to many areas, thus improving emergency response times. “I am convinced that the Otjomuise Fire Station will bring about better service delivery in terms of emergency responses to residents, especially the western suburban areas. It will improve our emergency response capability. The response time will be reduced from the current ten minutes from the fire station’s headquarters to as low as five minutes to an accident scene,” said Kafula. She mentioned loss of life, property damage and drainage of public resources as some of the hazards caused by fire.
Kafula further said that the most vulnerable section of the population to fire hazards are children aged 1 to 6 years and also constitute the largest number of victims of fire burns in the city. The mayor also said success does not lie in innovation and building capabilities alone, but also in nurturing the relationships and partnerships with the community of Windhoek. “The City of Windhoek continues to experience significant population growth. It’s population has grown from approximately 180 000 in 2005 to over 325 000 in 2011. The city is expected to provide emergency services with sufficient facilities that have not been significantly strengthened since the 1980’s, as opposed to a significant growth in the responsibilities of the city’s emergency division,” Kafula said. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony were Emily Kasenina and Rosalia Nailonga who have been residents in the Otjomuise area since 2000. “It is a very beautiful building we are proud and only hope that the emergency teams will respond with haste when we call on them in our time of need. This is good for our people, because we are candle and gas users. However, the City of Windhoek should also look at the fact that some parts of Khomasdal North are still without electricity,” they said.
Also speaking at the event was the Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development the retired Major General Charles Namoloh who said: “Fire fighters are like soldiers and I hope you are not clumsy. Many seek employment for the sake of being employed and having a payslip. Do it because you have a passion for it, if people are recruited as fire-fighters but have no passion to save lives it could prove fatal….” Namoloh urged residents and fire-fighters to take good care of the new building. “Maintenance, we are impressed to see you in such gallant uniforms however serving the community and doing your jobs is what is most important to us and the community,” he said.
By John Travolter Matali