20/04/2026
FIRE SERVICE LACKS INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT
ONE of the oldest important institutions in the country mandated to protect lives and property during fire and rescue emergencies is lacking in investments that will boost capacity to reach international standard at a time when PNG is experiencing rapid expansions and developments of major cities and urban centres. Due to lack of adequate government backing for many years had left the Papua New Guinea Fire and Rescue Service (PNGFRS) with aging infrastructure and low supply of basic firefighting equipment.
The unprecedented fires seen during the January riot in 2024 (Black Wednesday), and the recent fire reports in Port Moresby and parts of the country also shows the need for investment support from development partners, the national government and provincial governments as well as other stakeholders including business houses for the fire and rescue agency to be equipped and prepared for such scenarios.
With existing fire stations being built in the colonial days and underequipped firefighters are struggling to effectively respond to fire and rescue emergencies, we could not continue to blame the firefighters for not doing enough until they are fully supported in terms of infrastructure investment in building and upgrading of fire stations and acquiring of firefighting equipment like fire trucks and PPEs (personal protection equipment).
The fire agency acknowledged the recent fires as unfortunate and sad but, said they serves as a reminder to all that fire safety is important and is everyone’s responsibility. The fire incidents are a wake-up call for government agencies, development partners and developers to understand the importance of protecting property and lives from fire. Buildings in urban centres must meet fire safety standards and certified PNGFRS before occupancy.
Chief Fire Officer Bill Roo acknowledged The National for publishing the need for capacity boosting for his organisation to acquire more modern equipment to be prepared to respond to fire and rescue emergencies effectively in its editorial last year.
“Ours is an organisation that needs more investment to boost capacity,” Roo told The National. “For many years, our call for investment in more modern firefighting equipment often gets no attention. Existing fire stations are built in the colonial era. Today, the stations lack modern equipment and infrastructure.
“We would like to partner with provincial governments, district development authorities, businesses and property developers to protect their investments.”
During a tour of the four fire stations in the National Capital District in 2024, two months after his appointment, the minister responsible for PNGFRS and Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph saw himself the lack of investments the fire agency is facing to improve its standard. After seeing the lack of support faced by the stations, the minister outlined an ambitious plan to modernise the organisation.
While praising the firefighters for their role on Black Wednesday, the minister acknowledged the need for investment in infrastructure and equipment to modernise the country’s only fire and rescue agency to reach out to other provinces.
The Nipa-Kutubu MP lamented the lack of firefighting equipment at the stations in the capital city which portrayed the same picture for other stations across the country including Wabag, Kundiawa and Buka which were established recently.
“The government recognizes the importance of Fire and Rescue Service towards nation-building; hence, supporting the modernisation of this important state institution will be a crucial area of long-term focus,” he said during the stations tour. “This may seem like an ambitious plan but one that must be undertaken given the high stakes involve.”
Dr Billy said the plans to modernise the agency is to meet the evolving demand for fire safety and rescue needs of the country as townships continue to grow with rising investment in commercial and residential building infrastructures.
He acknowledged that the plans seemed ambitious and unachievable but they can be achieved with consistent capital investment in infrastructure and more modern rescue and firefighting equipment.
The Nipa-Kutubu MP told to the firefighters and officials that the priorities and strategies necessary to create a modern Fire and Rescue Service with national coverage included:
1. MODERNIZATION of all fire stations, fire engines and standard operations to meet the Australian standard;
2. RETIREMENT and replacement of old and dysfunctional fire engines with new fleets;
3. ESTABLISHMENT of standard fire station designs for provincial headquarters, urban towns and the NCD;
4. FORMULATION of agreements with all provincial governments, city commissions and town authorities;
5. ESTABLISHMENT of fire stations in all provincial headquarters to improve national coverage;
6. INCREASE the number of fire stations in Lae and Mt Hagen to enhance regional response capabilities;
7. TRANSITION of staff housing away from fire stations by initiating a staff housing sceme in partnership with National Housing Corporation;
8. RECRUIT more firefighters to beef manpower and to achieve full staffing capacity;
9. ESTABLISHMENT of a new fire training college;
10. CENTRALIZING all rescue operations under the fire safety jurisdiction; and,
11. IMPLEMENTATION of leadership mentoring and training programmes at the Joint Forces College, incorporating fire and rescue service.
Following the series of fires last year that claimed a family of six in Port Moresby’s Gordon, burning of shops in Mendi, Southern Highlands, and Mt Hagen in Western Highlands, The National’s editorial in November trumpeted the need for capacity boosting of the fire and rescue agency to be prepared for such incidents. It mentioned the plans revealed by the minister during the passing of the PNG Fire and Rescue Service Act 2025.
“I would like to see the PNGFRS enter into a new era, delivering more resources, more personnel and better focused and aligned services for the country,” Dr Billy said after passing of the Act. “My desire is for an enhanced investment in Fire and Rescue Service’s capabilities to ensure its committed frontline officers and staff are best positioned to respond to emergency situations.”
“That is a good start. Now the public announcements must be backed by action and funding,” according to The National’s editorial. “That is the least and the most natural follow up that is expected.”
With the added responsibility of rescue service in the Act, the agency is hoping for wider and increased government funding support to acquire equipment and build infrastructure for fire stations in the country.
“We have visions and plans to transform the organisation,” Roo said. “To modernise, we need investment in infrastructure and firefighting equipment. A single PPE costs us over K8,000. Cost of a fire truck is over a million Kina and for big engine capable of extinguishing fires in high rise buildings, it costs more.”
The Chief Fire Officer agreed that everything could not be transformed overnight but with increased consistent funding support over time the PNGFRS can achieve these plans to transform into a more modern organisation.
For the minister responsible, it is not too late to walk the talk to set his legacy with the fire agency to implement the plans he envisioned and shared with the PNGFRS. Improved investment in infrastructure and more modern firefighting equipment for fire stations across the country will only prepare the agency to be emergency-ready to deliver its service effectively rescuing lives and protecting properties from fire.
