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By William Isau
SIBU, Sept 4: The pattern of emergency calls received by the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JPBM) has changed where 70 per cent of the calls are for rescue missions.
Its director Datu Khirudin Drahman said that only 30 per cent of calls involve fire incidents.
“Calls for rescue missions include the need for ambulance, drowning victims, search, special services. This is a very positive phenomenon where fire calls are starting to decrease.
“Firefighters also do not face problems with factory operators because we require them to have an Emergency Action Team (ERT) at their respective premises as a measure to deal with fires and emergencies,” he said at a press conference here today.
Earlier, Khirudin officiated at the Sarawak JPBM Auxiliary Fire Officer Series 4/2023 Commissioning Ceremony at the Sibu Jaya Fire and Rescue Station.
According to Khirudin, in addition to increasing public awareness of the importance of fire prevention, property salvage has also increased.
“Last year alone, we recorded approximately less than 10 per cent loss. In 2021 during Covid-19 we only recorded approximately eight per cent loss.
“When the community was complacent, it went up 18 per cent, so when we did advocacy, last year it went below 10 per cent,” he explained.
He said, JPBM Sarawak intensified advocacy activities for the community as an effort to prevent and deal with any incidents that occur.
This included collaborating with the media in channeling knowledge and detailed information on fire prevention measures, actions that should be taken when faced with a fire and the cause of a fire.
Also present at the ceremony was Sibu Zone JBPM Chief Andy Alie. — DayakDaily
