Rwanda National Police

A firefighting course, which started in July, was successfully concluded on Thursday, at the Police Training School (PTS) in Gishari, Rwamagana District.

The course was attended by 57 participants including Police Officers, Rwanda Correction Service (RCS) officers and private security companies personnel who spent two months training in general firefighting techniques, rescue operations, fire suppression and first aid.

While closing the two-month training, Commissioner of Police (CP) Vianney Nshimiyimana, the Commandant of PTS Gishari said that the target of the training is to make firefighting knowledge accessible to many people.“Every person living in Rwanda should know how to extinguish fire or how to assist in fire outbreaks. Many people are dying due to fire incidents and lack of assistance. The target is to teach many people, to minimize fire cases and their ill effects,” he said.    

Commissioner of Police (CP) Vianney Nshimiyimana, the Commandant of PTS Gishari.

The commandant urged the participants, in particular those from private security companies, to give the course due importance by putting to good use the acquired skills and extend the skills to others in order to insure people and their property’s safety.

“We urge you to work with Rwanda National Police and teach other members of the community. Practice what you learnt especially in prevention of fire incidents,” CP Nshimiyimana reiterated.

Fidele Niyonshuti, the Rwanda Security Industry Association Chairman said that they chose to attend the course because they expected to gain more knowledge to ease their security related duties.

“We have given 31 people to attend this course to gain firefighting knowledge. Our job is to secure people and their property, which includes preventing fire, and assisting people when fire occurs. When can’t be successful without basic knowledge on how to do it,” Niyonshuti said.

“We will keep on working with Police to train our employees. The training was needed for we experienced many incidents of fire, which affected our job. We hope that this training will bear fruits,” he added.

 Abdoul-Karim Bazatoha, one of the participants form RGL Company Ltd said that he learned many things that will facilitate his work and he is committed to extend that knowledge.

“We didn’t know much in fighting fire. We used to think it was the responsibility of the Police alone, but we learned some basic skills to extinguish fire and helping people involved in it,” Bazatoha said.

He added, “We thank RNP for giving us such a beneficial training; we are ready to do all that is required to prevent fire, to help fighting it when if occurs and we will teach our colleagues, family members and neighbors in our respective areas.”

The training came in line with Rwanda National Police's efforts to equip various segments of the public with basic fire safety skills.