Growing up near the Kalibobo Light House and opposite the beautiful golf course in Madang known as the executive residential area in the beautiful tourist town brings new experiences every day for young Elijah Kiala.

Being a mix parentage of Madang and East New Britain, Kiala was familiar with Madang and knew where Ramu NiCo’s Kurumbukari Mine was and saw pictures of it but never imagined that one day he would set foot there.

When he was recruited under the Ramu NiCo Graduate Development Scheme Program, Kiala was sent to train under the HSE department as a safety officer at Kurumbukari Mine.

The lovely scene of the starry nights painting the moon light shadow over the Kalibobo light house and gold field was gone, Kiala was now surrounded by the cold mountain fog and the beautiful green mountains towered over Ramu River.

But what Kiala was more focused on and looking forward to was his first training experience at the only nickel mine in Papua New Guinea.

Kiala was all set to embrace that experience fully and the first training experience was how to handle a fire extinguisher.

On 7th November 2025, Kiala and other GDS trainees had their first hands-on experience in a comprehensive fire extinguisher training session.

The training covered essential topics including Emergency Procedures, Fire Extinguisher Usage and Practical Operation.

The hands-on exercise allowed students to use fire extinguishers to put out a flammable liquid fire, which is to boost their confidence and provide valuable experience in fire safety.

Kiala, while recapping on the Fire Extinguisher Training, said they had a valuable opportunity to participate in a fire extinguisher training session.

According to Kiala, the presentation was engaging and informative, delivered by an experienced instructor, Mr. Channel, ERT Deputy Superintendent

Mr.Singan emphasized the importance of fire safety and preparation in our workplace. Elijah stated that, one of the key takeaways from the training was the acronym “PASS,“ which stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep.

“Learning this simple technique helped me to reinforce how to effectively use a fire extinguisher in an emergency situation,” Kiala said.”

“It was fascinating to see how even a small fire could escalate if not addressed correctly,” he said.
Kiala said the practical part of the training was both exciting and slightly nerve-wracking.

He said when it was finally his turn to use the fire extinguisher, he felt more alert and nervousness took control of him.

“A part of me was anxious, but I was also grateful for the chance to put what we learned into practice,” Kiala said.

Extinguishing the flames was incredibly satisfying, and it gave me a newfound confidence in handling fire emergencies,” he added.

Overall, the training was not just a learning experience for Kiala but also a reminder of the importance of being prepared and knowing how to respond in critical situations.

“I encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the fire extinguishers in our area, as knowing how to use them can truly make a difference,” Kiala said.