New law on fire brigades

PARLIAMENT passed a new law on Tuesday to standardise and coordinate fire brigade services for local authorities.

The Local Authorities Fire Brigade Services Act replaces the outdated Fire Brigade Services Ordinance of 1978. It provides for the voluntary establishment and maintenance of fire brigade services.”The town councils concerned must decide whether the service will be on a full-time or on a part-time basis,” said the Deputy Minister of Regional and Local Government, Kazenambo Kazenambo.The Ministry must subsidise such a service,” he added.The new law further stipulates that a local authority, which has established a fire brigade, must appoint a chief fire officer who must have the prescribed qualifications and experience.A reserve fire brigade force may also be set up.The local authority may employ the fire brigade inside or outside its local authority area to prevent the outbreak or spread of fires or to extinguish them.It can also render an ambulance service.Municipalities may determine levies to be paid by residents to finance a fire brigade service, on top of the subsidy they will receive from the line ministry.Municipal fire brigades may enter into service contract agreements with any person, another municipality, regional council or the Government to make use of the fire brigade.It provides for the voluntary establishment and maintenance of fire brigade services.”The town councils concerned must decide whether the service will be on a full-time or on a part-time basis,” said the Deputy Minister of Regional and Local Government, Kazenambo Kazenambo.The Ministry must subsidise such a service,” he added.The new law further stipulates that a local authority, which has established a fire brigade, must appoint a chief fire officer who must have the prescribed qualifications and experience.A reserve fire brigade force may also be set up.The local authority may employ the fire brigade inside or outside its local authority area to prevent the outbreak or spread of fires or to extinguish them.It can also render an ambulance service.Municipalities may determine levies to be paid by residents to finance a fire brigade service, on top of the subsidy they will receive from the line ministry.Municipal fire brigades may enter into service contract agreements with any person, another municipality, regional council or the Government to make use of the fire brigade.