Fire extinguishers save RM10.4 million in property from fires

KUCHING: Occupants with fire extinguishers have successfully saved an estimated RM10.4 million in property from fires in Sarawak this year.

This accounted for 34 out of 197 or 17 per cent of fire cases on structures recorded.

Fire and Rescue Department ( Bomba) Sarawak director Nor Hisham Mohammad said as such, Emergency Response Teams ( ERTs) of both private and public organisations play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of assets.

“This is because you are the first responders to take action in addressing any incident or mishap in the workplace, especially firerelated, before Bomba arrives,” he said during the closing ceremony of a Bomba ERT training programme on Wednesday.

“Hence, competency and efficiency of teams become the benchmark that determines the rate of safety of staff and property in the premises.”

Last year, 90 out of 487 fire cases (or 18 per cent) were successfully put out with an estimated RM17.7 million in property saved.

For fire cases under the Fixed Premises Category, 28 were put out by in-house staff.

“This year alone, there are eight cases involving three hotels, three factories, one hospital, and one warehouse, which were put out and prevented the loss of lives and property damage,” added Nor Hisham.

Under the Fire Services Act 1988 (Act 341), a competent ERT team is compulsory for Fire Certification (FC) for premises under the Fixed Premises category.

In Sarawak, 13 per cent of 515 buildings have yet to obtain fire certification as their owners have yet to form their ERTs.

“So far, the department has issued 449 FC to building owners with high-risk of fire cases. It is a serious offence for a building not to obtain the certification,” Nor Hisham warned.