Fire and Rescue Dept launches its first canine (K9) unit
TUARAN: The State Fire and Rescue Department yesterday officially launched its first canine (K9) unit for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
Director Kamarulzaman Malik Abdullah who officiated at the launching ceremony said six dogs with three disciplines, namely Fire Investigation, SAR Wildnerness and SAR Cadaver, were currently placed at Tuaran Branch, and the department was expected to receive another two dogs in near future.
“This is the first K9 unit set up in Sabah and we believe this unit will help our personnel in SAR.
“The dogs will definitely help cut rescue response time,” he said.
In a previous report from the department, it was decided that a K9 unit was needed in Sabah because locating victims after the earthquake that hit Ranau in 2015 was tough without sniffer dogs.
During the press conference after the event, Kamarulzaman revealed that a total of 76 cases had been handled by the department in 2018 as of October, involving 21 deaths.
The number shows an increase compared to 46 cases in 2017. with four deaths.
“Having our own K9 unit in Sabah, with experienced handlers, will hopefully improve our operations,” he added.
Most of the dogs were imported from the UK, while the experienced handlers have been working for the department for more than a decade.