Fiji Pine Ltd (FPL) company officials and landowners in the Ra Province received a new fire truck valued at $140,000, to help them fight forest fires.
The fire truck was given to FPL’s Ra Pine Station through a FPL and Ministry of Forestry partnership program.
While handing over the truck, FPL manager administration and IT Osea Daveta said the gift would expand the company’s horizon in helping Ra Pine Station fulfil its fire-fighting obligations and needs.
“The company has high hopes that you will all utilise this resource in meeting your targets this year,” Mr Daveta said.
“Your responsibility will be to ensure that you maintain the truck so that we can keep our forests safe.”
Ra Forest Station head, Sai Vosare, paid tribute to FPL while she shared the challenge presented by forest fires last year.
“Last year was our biggest fire challenge. We lost a lot – the fires covered all our major areas; from Nananu to Naseyani, over to Waikubukubu and Savatu areas, and into Tokaimalo,” she said.
“The new fire truck is going to really help us this year.”
Ra Pine Station covers at least 9779.09 hectares with 53 landowning units (mataqali) from 27 villages
