By Nancy Nais
MIRI, Sept 28: The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak’s Summer Camp programme has proven it’s effectiveness when it comes to fire awareness, prevention and how to deal with it, if it happens.
Bomba director-general Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said such fire-related knowledge has been well communicated to the community and they have applied to it in the event of a fire outbreak.
“Since its inception in 2014, the programme has a very significant impact as several longhouses in Miri have been successfully saved by the villagers who participated in the programme.
“For example, on July 26, a fire broke out at Long Ikang longhouse in Baram at 12 midnight. However, the fire was successfully extinguished by residents using nine units of fire extinguishers.
“Although the fire destroyed three doors (pintu), the villagers saved the remaining 74 ‘pintu’, which would have affected 1,000 residents,” Hamdan said when closing the 2019 Summer Camp at Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club, here, yesterday.
The particular longhouse has also purchased a ‘KampungKu’ insurance plan with a maximum of RM10,000 coverage from Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Bhd.
The longhouse chief (tuairumah) Cathrine Madang discussed with her fellow villagers and they agreed to purchase the insurance coverage after she attended similar Summer Camp programme last year.
The affected families were awarded RM3,000 in compensation after the fire.
“My heartfelt congratulations to Cathrine and all the residents of Long Ikang longhouse for taking the awareness program seriously,” Hamdan said.
Among the subjects shared throughout the programme were Modern Longhouse Design, Home Fire Safety, Open Burning, home gas safety, basic water rescue, demonstration on kitchen fire, basic First Aid and Rescue and incident Action Plan (IAP).
Sabah Sarawak Gas Pipeline Route (SSGP) also briefed the participants on the do’s and don’ts with regards to safety and fire.
Hamdan also revealed that the programme has encouraged more villagers to establish Volunteer Firefighters, Community Firefighters and the creation of Fire Point in each longhouse, village and district.
The Summer Camp is a joint programme organised by Bomba Miri zone and Petronas Carigali.
It is one of Petronas Carigali’s CSR programmes and this year marks the 6th year of the programme.
This year, a total of 50 participants from six state constituencies namely Bekenu, Lambir, Senadin, Marudi, Telang Usan, Mulu and community leaders along the SSGP participated in the programme.
Since 2014 to June this year, a total of 812 people have participated in Bomba’s community programmes statewide.
Bomba director of the Fire Safety Division, Edwin Galan Teruki, state director Khirudin Drahman, Miri chief Law Poh Kiong, as well as Sarawak Oil – Malaysia Assets (Upstream) senior general manager Morris Mail, were among those present. — DayakDaily
