SIBU, July 30: Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak needs at least 25 more fire stations due to the size of the state.
Its director Khirudin Drahman revealed that currently the state has only 34 stations.
“The addition can also help increase the response time,” he said when met after the pre-submission and inspection of the Sibu Jaya fire station with the Public Works Department (JKR) today.
He added that based on studies, the additional stations need to be placed in strategic and high-risk areas.
Khirudin noted that building a new station requires high costs and its construction would depend on government funding.
Therefore, the department has identified several other initiatives to improve its services such as increasing the number of Voluntary Fire Brigades (PBSs) and Community Fire Brigades (PBKs).
Apart from that, Bomba Sarawak will also receive 10 new machines of which five will be delivered in the near future while the remaining five are expected to be ready by the end of this year.
“We will also receive a total of nine Rapid Intervention Motorcycle (RIM) units to enhance fire operations and rescue work,” he added.
On the Sibu Jaya station, he said it is expected to begin operations on October 1 and will have a staff strength of 32 firefighters and officers.
“The Sibu Jaya station was constructed at a cost of about RM5.8 million. It covers an area within a radius of 10km which include Sibu Jaya township, Durin, Kemuyang and Sibu Hospital,” he added.
Also present at the event was the Sibu Bomba Zone 4 chief Janggan Muling. — DayakDaily
