President Michel officially opens Praslin fire station |27 July 2015

Praslin’s new state-of-the-art fire station which has been operational since July 9, 2015 was officially opened on Saturday morning by President James Michel along with Home Affairs Minister Charles Bastienne and chief fire officer of the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) Andre Morel.

Built on 2,419.74 square metres of state land on the reclaimed Eve island, the fire station has been financed by the Seychelles government at a cost of R30 million.

Blessed by Father Fred from the Anglican diocese, the station is manned by 23 firefighters from Mahé under the leadership of assistant divisional officer Edson Nanon.

Saturday’s ceremony was attended by ministers Joel Morgan (Foreign Affairs and Transport), Mitcy Larue (Health) and Michael Benstrong (Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation), officers of the SFRSA as well as dignitaries and community members from Praslin.

President Michel said the opening of the fire station on Praslin is an historic moment which would greatly benefit the community.

"The fire station will give the Praslin community a greater sense of security and protection. The island is developing quickly and needs this extra support. This station will also give many young Praslinois the chance to be trained and to work in their community. It is an important asset which will contribute to the progress and prosperity of the island," said the President.

Minister Bastienne described the opening of the fire station, which for a long time the people of Praslin has been waiting for, as a big day and noted that it’s proof of the government’s commitment to ensuring that all islands of Seychelles receive the same level of development which touches the people.

With 1,100 new businesses on Praslin, it is important to have a fire station on the island, said Minister Bastienne, who thanked the firefighters of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority who have in the past intervened in cases of fire and other calamities on the island.

“Being a firefighter is a noble job, but also a risky one. And every time firefighters are called upon they must be ready to intervene. We salute you all for your good work, courage and devotion,” said Minister Bastienne.

He also called on young Praslinois to take up the challenge to become firefighters and work in collaboration with the different agencies and the business community to ensure that all equipment are in place to avoid total destruction of buildings in cases of fire.

Construction work on the station started in August 2013 and took 22 months to complete and it has an administrative block, a mechanical workshop, disaster command centre, offices, training rooms, a library, stores, residential quarters with a recreational room, kitchen, a dining room, showers and bedrooms and an appliance bay.

There are actually two fire engines at the station and two smaller ones which are being constructed will join the fleet in two or three months. The station’s staff will increase to 35 and this number will include firefighters involved with fire prevention.

For chief fire officer Morel, the opening of the fire station proves that the government has delivered on its promise despite the lateness experienced in work delivery.

He added that one of the priorities of the SFRSA under its 2012-2016 strategic plan is to decentralise its service and build five new stations.

The station on Praslin is the second after La Digue got its own last year. 

Three more stations will be built at Anse Royale, Beau Vallon and Ile Perseverance.

“Praslinois should feel safe now that they have a fire station on their doorsteps and it’s in our plan to have a fire post in Grand Anse Praslin. We will work with the Praslin community to reduce the number of fire cases on Praslin and I would like to call on everyone to take all necessary measures in their homes and other establishments to avoid fires,” said CFO Morel.

He also called on all firefighters to display a good level of discipline, work as a team and keep the station clean.

In her vote of thanks, the member of the National Assembly for Baie Ste Anne, Natasha Esther, said all Praslinois are proud of the new fire station which has become a reality thanks to the vision of President Michel.

“We thank President Michel for thinking of us Praslinois and for making well-calculated decisions in the country’s people-centred development,” said Ms Esther.

She also called on Praslinois to take up a job as firefighter and for all homes to have a trained life/property saver in the future.

“Having a fire station does not mean that fire concerns only fire fighters. We should all act responsibly to reduce the expenses incurred by a fire station as it costs the country a lot,” added MNA Esther.

There was also role play by students of the Grand Anse Praslin, a dance performance by children of Baie Ste Anne primary and a poem by three Baie Ste Anne secondary school students.

Head of the Anse Boileau station, Philippe Thomas, also performed a song before the President toured the new facilities and spoke to the fire officers about their operations on Praslin.