HILARY HOSIA
A civilian was recognized in Parliament this week for his voluntary actions that helped put out a fire in Uliga this past Sunday.
Minister of Natural Resources and Commerce Tony Muller, who happens to live next door to the building that was on fire and was a firsthand witness to the ordeal, praised the authorities that responded to the fire with a special recognition to Nimo Lanwi.
The fire had the town on edge as the biggest fuel hub in Majuro, Mobil, is located several meters south of the fire.
The burned down building was last used as a training center for weightlifters and was the last remnant of the former Uliga Elementary School.
The fire began around 12 in the afternoon, according to CCTV footage from the house next door. The footage, however, does not show what started the fire.
Enter Nimo. Nimo was at home in Uliga with his family when he heard about the fire near the Mobil fuel depot. When he heard fire and Mobil in the same sentence, Nimo’s instinct as a former firefighter kicked in. Nimo told the Journal he sprinted to Mobil and instructed the workers to notify their boss before heading to the fire site. He had also instructed his family to call the fire department.
At the site, Nimo saw only police officers, who said the firetruck was still at the police station waiting on the driver. Without hesitation, Nimo jumped on a cab towards the fire station where he offered to assist before driving the fire truck to the site. Nimo then initiated the rescue operation with the help of other officers who arrived at the scene.
No one was hurt in the fire, except a rented car parked near the building.
The building sits between a car rental and a garage by the main road.
After spending four years in the fire department, Nimo had to venture other job opportunities for financial reasons. He is a fireman at heart, he told the Journal. Nimo plans on returning to the fire station with hopes of a pay increase to the hardworking individuals at the fire department who risk their lives on the job.
Even when he found a new post at the Majuro Water and Sewer Company, Nimo was one of the responders to the fire that destroyed the former Special Restaurant in Batkan in April last year. He was also present during the recent fire behind K&K in Uliga.
Nimo is currently employed at the Public Service Commission office.