Tonga Fire and Emergency Services firemen were pumped up with their two fire trucks and fire fighting equipment worth about $100,000 donated by the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Services today.

The South Australians have supported Tonga with training and equipment supplies to help develop its capacity.

Donated equipment includes an International Skyjet truck, a light duty general purpose pumper truck along with hoses, fire fighting tunics, safety boots, gloves, extension ladder, rescue machines, ropes, safety boots, beacon lights, harness, thermal image camera and tele radios. 

Viliami Tu'ihalamaka, Deputy Fire Commissioner Corporate Services said that the equipment will be helpful to the operations, with three stations in Tongatapu, and one each in Vava'u, Ha'apai and 'Eua.  "They will be distributed to all fire stations in Tonga."

"A Skyjet truck can use its ladders to reach multi-storey buildings, as high as the National Reserve Bank building," said Viliami.