WEWAK, TUESDAY: In light of recent fire incidents around Wewak town, the Sepik Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has taken proactive steps to train its workforce in basic fire safety.
More than 20 staff members attended a practical training session this afternoon at the Sepik Mission headquarters on Wewak Hill, led by officers from the Wewak Fire Station.
The session focused on understanding the different classes of fire and the correct methods for extinguishing them. It also covered workplace hazard identification and included a Q&A segment where staff raised concerns about emergency response and equipment use.
Fire Station Commander Ketom Resom, who facilitated the training, said their aim is to help workplaces reduce risk and be ready in case of an emergency.
“It is our job to provide training on the hazards of fire and conduct basic safety training on fire hazards and safety measures,” Commander Resom said.
Sepik Mission Secretary, Pastor Jeffrey Saigomi, thanked the fire team and said the training was a necessary step given recent events.
“With what’s been happening around town lately, we saw the need to prepare our staff. This session was very informative, and we’re grateful to the Wewak Fire Service for their support,” Pr. Saigomi said.
As part of the awareness session, key fire safety tips were shared, including:
• Never overload power points
• Never smoke in bed
• Keep fire escape doors clear at all times
• Light a match before turning on a gas stove and turn it off after use
• Place candles in secure holders and safe locations
• Install smoke detectors in homes
• Keep a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children
• Upgrade old electrical wiring
• If clothing catches fire: stop, drop and roll
The training was delivered under the national fire awareness campaign “Talk Fire Safety – Secure Your Environment.”
The Wewak Fire Station is encouraging other institutions and communities to organise similar training sessions and make fire safety a shared responsibility.
