By Bill W. Cooper
The Montserrado County Senator, Saah Joseph, is proposing a US$3 million emergency budget for the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) in response to the continuous fire outbreaks in the country.
Senator Joseph, in his communication to the Liberian Senate, further described the continuous fire outbreak across the country over the last three months as a ‘national emergency’ that requires government’s urgent attention and action.
Liberia has been experiencing a series of devastating fire incidents that have resulted in loss of lives, destruction of properties, and displacement of families with the recent being Speaker Fonati Koffa and Sen. Joseph himself.
As a result, the lack of adequate resources and equipment for the LNFS has been identified by several Liberians including government officials as a major contributing factor to the inability to effectively respond to these emergencies.
According to him, the provision of the amount will purchase and ship 17 fire trucks and accessories to Liberia, noting that it is necessary so as to augment the strength of the Fire Service Agency in fighting fire Disaster within the country precisely Montserrado.
He recalled that in recent months, Montserado alone has been engulfed by a series of devastating outbreak of fire resulting in the significant loss of lives and properties which he said, as custodians of public welfare and governance, such incidents must be addressed speedily.
Sen. Joseph further emphasized the importance of investing in the Fire Service to ensure that they have the necessary tools and resources to carry out their duties effectively and asserted that the proposed emergency funds will be used to empower the LNFS speedily.
The senator also called on the government to prioritize the safety and security of its citizens by providing adequate support to the LNFS, stressing that fire outbreaks pose a serious threat to public safety and should be treated as a top priority by the government.
Meanwhile, Sen. Joseph is calling for the establishment of a national fire safety awareness campaign to educate the public on fire prevention and response measures, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in reducing the risk of fire incidents and ensuring the safety for all.
However, following the reading of the communication, Senate pro-temp, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence mandated the leadership of the Liberian Senate to take possession of the matter and advise plenary on Thursday.
