Presentation of Fire Fighting Vehicles to the Civil Protection Department

In a symbolic ceremony held today at the Department of CivilProtection at Hal Far, the Italian Ambassador H.E. Dr. Marco Colombo handed Mr.Joe Mizzi, the keys to eight new Iveco fire-fighting vehicles procured from Italy by theDepartment of Civil Protection through funds provided under the FourthFinancial Protocol.

The vehicles consist of a 37 metre turntable ladder, a mobileControl Unit and six compact tank-pumpers each with a water capacity of 1000litres, and equipped for road traffic accidents. The cost of these vehiclesamount to Lm 460,000. Two other fire-fighting vehicles have already beenprocured through the same financial Protocol.

The whole Project for land based fire-fighting vehicles isanticipated to cost Lm1.6 million and consist of the procurement of 27 newfire-fighting vehicles to replace existing old fire-engines.

Minister Mizzi said that the procurement of these fire-fightingvehicles and additional equipment was part of the continuing progress forimproving the fire and rescue services.

With the help of the Italian Financial Protocol the Departmentintends to accomplish various projects, such as the construction of the CivilProtection Operations Headquarters at Ta' Kandja and the procurement of thenecessary operational equipment.

A Maritime Unit is also being planned to cater for fire-fightingat sea, rescue anti-pollution and salvage. Four new vessels have been orderedby the Department costing Lm4.5 million, which consist of :-

    *   1 Multipurpose Fire-Fighting and Oil-Pollution Control Tug - 30metres in length

    *   1 Fire-Fighting/Patrol Vessel - 21 metres in length

    *    2 Search and Rescue Motor Boats 12.5 metres in length - 40 knotsspeed

On the question of personnel an agreement was signed in November1997, between the Home Affairs Division and the Management and Personnel Officeregarding salaries and working conditions of personnel of the Fire-Fighting andRescue Force of the Dpeartment of Civil Protection. These personnel will berequired to undergo training in Maltaor abroad before taking up duties with the Deaprtment. The fire and rescueservices on land and sea will be the main responsibility of these officers.These duties will also be incorporated in a Bill on Civil Protection which isdue to be debated in Parliament in the coming months.

Amongst those present for the ceremony werealso, Mr. Louis Cilia, Permanent Secretary Home Affairs, Mr. Joe Micallef,Director, Department of Civil Protection and members of the Directorate ofCivil Protection.