Kuwait City: Kuwait has announced a new law to reorganise its fire department and provide more benefits to firefighters.
“Although they do a very hard and dangerous job, they don’t get the benefits given to other military officers," Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) social media head Lt Ridha Al-Salman told Kuwait Times.
"This law is a quantum leap for firefighters, which achieves community security and protects lives and properties. It will also improve the performance and skills of firefighters.
He said that according to the new law, a firefighting academy of international standards would be founded which will allow more students to study in the field.
"Presently, 450 to 500 graduates are trained as firefighters annually, but at the new academy, this number will be much higher, and even students from the GCC can join the academy,” he said.
“Currently, firefighters only get courses from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, in addition to training at a fire station.
"Their certificate is equal to a diploma, but this academy is at the university level.
"We prepared the curriculum to conform to modern fire sciences and urban development,” he added, saying that firefighters need to be prepared for natural disasters, major accidents and crises.
"The academy will accept high school graduates to study firefighting sciences and engineering.
"More fields may be added according to the needs of the administration. The graduates will be from both diploma and university levels.”
Women will also have access to more courses based on the needs of the force, he said.
Preserving the material and moral rights of firefighters, the new law "includes some allowances similar to officers in the ministry of defence or the ministry of interior. Moral benefits include building a hospital for firefighters and their families.
"It also includes establishing a club for fire officers and even noncommissioned officers. The government has already allocated land in Messila to build the club,” he revealed.
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