Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has inaugurated the Island Fire Response Team and donated a fire pump system to Thoddoo, Alifu Alifu Atoll.
The team was inaugurated by the Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi at a ceremony held in Thoddoo. The minister also handed over the fire pump system to the island council office on behalf of MNDF. Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal, Marine Corps Commander Brigadier General Vice Wais Waheed, Coast Guard Commander Colonel Ibrahim Hilmy, Male' Area Commander Colonel Ahmed Ghiyas, Parliamentarian Hussain Shaheem and Parliamentarian Mohamed Aslam were also present at the ceremony.
The Island Fire Response Team was formed by the MNDF Male' Area Command and MNDF Fire and Rescue Service with participants who completed the Community Volunteer Fire Fighters programme in Thoddoo. A total of Eight men and three women from the island participated in the programme. In addition, 80 parents from Thoddoo schools were given awareness sessions on how to protect themselves from a fire incident in their homes. MNDF donated a fire extinguishing system to the Thoddoo Island Council after forming the fire response team.
MNDF stated that the participants were taught fire behaviour, portable fire extinguishers, ropes and notes, incident command system, fire hose nozzles and appliances, pumps and primers, fire stream, victim carrying methods and defensive fire fighting sections. The certificates were presented to the graduates by Minister Mariya.