For more than a decade, the Fire Service has been operating under a severe shortage of essential equipment, however, acting Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Andy Hutchinson expressed hope that today's national budget will finally address these long-standing concerns.

Hutchinson spoke with Newsday at an educational fair at the Brian Lara Promenade, Port of Spain on October 10. He emphasised while new equipment is vital, training is equally critical.

"Anybody who knows the fire service and what our responsibility entails will know we cover a wide spectrum," he said. "If you give us a new vehicle, like a Hazmat truck, we need officers trained to operate it. That requires ongoing training programmes, which have been lacking over the years."