The recent strengthening in the number of Station Officers within the Civil Protection Department will be leading to the assignment of six station officers on stand-by during the night instead of one with all stations.

This was announced by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela during the presentation of certificates to new station officers, following the completion of training related with their responsibilities.

In the coming days each of the station at Ħal Far/USAR, Kordin/Floriana and that of Gozo will see an assigned station officer on stand-by during the night. There will also be another station officer assigned at night with the Marine/Hazmat and another in the Control Room at ta’ Kandja. This is in contrast to the system adopted of one station officer on duty that had to manage all stations.

 

Minister Abela spoke on the Government’s commitment to strengthen the middle management of fire stations. He said that thanks to the system that will start to be adopted, wherever there is the need of the presence of a station officer during the hours between 2030 and 0700, it will be possible for the officer to arrive on place in less time. Thus the service provided to the public will continue to improve.

He added that the increase in the number of stations officers provided for the possibility to extend the working hours of station officers to 0700 till 2030 instead till 1500. Thus the middle-management system will keep on enhancing.

 

The Minister remarked the importance to keep on working on the skills of civil protection members. He said that in contrast to what used to happen before where a new station officer used to get on the job training, this was the first time that they were provided with a training programme targeting their particular needs before starting their assignment.

 

Spread on a period of four weeks this course was aimed at preparing them both for their managerial and practical duties. He noted that during the course they carried out visits at the fire stations, studied the Civil Protection Law, re-practiced rope access, fire behaviour. Similarly they were trained in risk assessments and in leadership.

 

Minister Abela added that this was the first time that the Civil Protection Department made use of the facilities of the Academy for Disciplined Forces at ta’ Kandja serving as a pilot project for the drafting of more courses in coordination with the Academy Director of Studies. Discussions are already underway with the Academy to conduct accredited training for CPD.

The Minister for Home Affairs thanked the Civil Protection Department for training these training officers.