Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/584253
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2015 15 for around 16, 17 years. They oper- ate on terrain which is not always ideal… in brief, they are obsolete and need to be changed. The Fi- nance Ministry understood the need, and together we've drawn up a plan to replace the fleet within five years." One new fire engine – "flaming new", he jokes – has already ar- rived, and another two are expected in time for CHOGM next month. Another seven will arrive by the end of February. And €2.56 million have been allocated to buy another 12 in 2016, on top of those. "This means we're already within reach of half our target to change the whole fleet…" All the same, the number one pri- ority remains another. "Apart from a new station in the centre of the island, we urgently need to have grounds to carry out training. Un- fortunately we don't have the space necessary for what is the most im- portant requirement. Even just when it comes to fire fighting: it's a very technical area which requires very specific training. USAR is an- other: we've just acquired six spe- cially trained dogs from the Czech Republic, which can sniff out survi- vors trapped under debris." As things stand, he adds, most of the training that takes place is con- fined to collaborations with other countries, mostly financed by the EU. "In fact we've just sent 18 CPD members on a training mission to Lampedusa: it was a simulation of an urban search and rescue scene after a tsunami. Three weeks ago we had a similar EU-funded train- ing session in Gozo: we simulated a collapsed building, with all the asso- ciated dangers, in a disused quarry. It was a joint venture with the civil protection departments of Palermo and Catania." He hastens to add that this sort of collaborative training is ongoing all the time – as if to dispel the impres- sion that CPD members may not benefit from any training at all – but given the constantly changing cir- cumstances facing the department, this is no longer sufficient. "It is important for us to have a plot of land for an academy of our own. By 'academy' I don't mean just a place to acquire theoretical knowl- edge – one way or another, that can be done with the resources we have today. What we need is an open space with the necessary equipment to be able to train for specific situa- tions. Earlier you asked about high- rise, for instance…" Yes, in fact I was going to ask if Malta is prepared – from a civil pro- tection point of view – for changes to the urban landscape that will no doubt entail scenarios we have no experience of dealing with at all… such as, a fire breaking out on the 60th floor of a tower block. Would the new fire engines be able to reach that kind of altitude? "You are right that the scenario is completely different. And so is the training that will be required… but to answer your question, it is not necessary for the fire engine to have a ladder that can reach 60 stories. That's actually impossible, without the base – i.e., the fire engine itself – toppling over… especially when you consider the design of our roads. But there are other means. It is necessary today for buildings to be equipped with reservoirs… you need fire hydrants to pump water upwards to the top stories… with the necessary infrastructure in place you can overcome the problem of altitude. It's a matter of planning." But this only takes us back to the point of departure. As with safety precautions at events, we can all understand the necessity… but is the legal infrastructure in place to ensure that buildings are equipped with all the necessary safety fea- tures? Or is it just an ideal we all aspire to, but which turns out to be non-existent when that fire actually does break out? "As I said earlier, we don't have executive powers to place our own conditions on developers. But yes, today there are practices in place to ensure designs comply with safety standards. Each time MEPA receives an application, it consults with us on safety issues: be it for new buildings or restoration. Even though we have no executive powers, we still make recommendations. They are based on the UK's standards: we have an appointed manager to look over the plans, to assess what type of instal- lations, reservoirs, etc., are incorpo- rated. Whether they have automatic sprinkler systems in case of fire, for example… or enough escape routes. One thing that is very important is to have an evacuation plan. We take care of all that, through the advice we give to MEPA." Currently, the CPD receives be- tween 10 and 15 MEPA applica- tions for assessment each week. Coming back to Sunday's event: we've already established that Rizzo can't comment directly on the ac- cident in itself… but what lessons, if any, would he say we could learn from the experience in future? "As far as I am concerned there are always lessons to be learnt. Even when things go smoothly… because there can always be improvement. In this case, there is need for a post- mortem… which is in fact happen- ing, in the form of an inquiry… and if it is determined that a review of procedure is necessary, then so be it." Interview Civil Protection Department director JOHN RIZZO discusses whether Malta is logistically prepared to handle large-scale emergencies, in light of unanswered safety questions arising from Sunday's 'Paqpaqli' crash strikes… PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD