Semporna village to have security, firefighting post

KOTA KINABALU: A security and firefighting post manned by full-time firefighters will be installed at Kampung Air in Semporna.

Fire and Rescue Department director-general Dato Mohammad Hamdan Haji Wahid told reporters that similar posts will be installed at various other sites that have been identified by the department, but Kampung Air will be the first one to have such a facility.

The post, which will be equipped with the tools necessary in firefighting, with three boats to be used for firefighting, search and rescue operations and for EMRS, will also provide safety and emergency medical rescue services (EMRS Bomba).

Mohammad Hamdan added that since fire trucks are ineffective in places such as Kampung Air, boats will be utilized to fight the fire.

“The post will be manned by firefighters who are skilled in tackling fire from the boat,” he said.

He also said fire-pipes would be installed so that the firefighters would be able to get seawater to put out the fire.

The cost of setting up the posts would be borne by the federal government. However, the state government would be required to commit by providing suitable sites, he said.

He said the posts would likely be completed by the end of this year.

Mohammad Hamdan said this during a press conference held after presenting the 2018 Service Excellence Award to 76 recipients from his department held at the Ming Garden Hotel near here.

He also disclosed a proposal to empower volunteer firefighters in Sabah.

The director-general said his department had proposed that volunteer firefighter stations be established at places that were located far from any fire stations or were located in isolated places such as islands.

He said these stations needed to be equipped with firefighting equipment and the volunteer firefighters must be provided with safety firefighting gears and uniforms so that they could act effectively as the first responders prior to the arrival of the firefighting team from the nearest fire stations.

He said there were about 40 firefighting teams in Sabah and the department planned to formalize them.

“They will be registered with the ministry through the department, and they will be given the necessary equipment and fire station,” he said.

He explained that the team will carry out the basic firefighting exercise and will also receive a grant.

“A study is also being conducted so that they will receive allowance,” he said, citing however that this was still being studied.

In addition, the volunteer firefighters will also receive insurance protection.

“This is the best way to tackle (fire) isolation and distance from the nearest fire station,” he said.

Aside from that, the department also wants to work with the local communities as they have the knowledge concerning the place where they live in.

“For example, we will work with fishermen when at coastal areas, and at mountains, we will work with the mountain guides (malim gunung),” he said.

Mohammad Hamdan added that the focus of the department is to make firefighting a community effort.

“This is one of the most economical ways to provide fire cover throughout the country,” he said.

During the event, a cheque of RM18,400 was also presented to the Wira Merah fund. The amount was fund raised during a football match between Bomba Sabah, SS90 football team and RTM on Jan 10 at the Likas Stadium.

The fund was established in aid of widows of firefighters who perished in the line of duty.