20 NEW FIRE STATIONS

More teams can meet 10-minute response time target, says D-G

THE Fire and Rescue Department is confident that more emergency teams will be able to achieve their 10-minute response time target with the addition of 20 fire stations this year.

Its director-general, Datuk Seri Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim, said the new stations would bring the total number of stations to 309, adding that this would allow faster response from the department.

He said last year, the department recorded a 47 per cent success rate of arriving at emergency locations within the 10-minute response time, adding that the target this year was 48.5 per cent.

“With more stations in strategic locations, efforts to save lives and property can be done faster,” he said at the presentation of medals, excellent service awards and 30-years-of-service certificates at the Fire and Rescue Department here yesterday.

Present was state Fire and Rescue Department director Norazam Khamis.

Wan said the department would add new fire engines and equipment, including 18 aerial ladder platforms and a multipurpose vehicle from Italy worth RM87.3 million.

He said the machinery would arrive in stages until next year, based on the needs of the department.

He, however, said the new stations would not necessarily lead to an increase in the number of firefighters, hence the department was looking at adding 500 volunteers to join its Firemen Volunteer Team (FVT).

“With the addition of volunteers, rescue operations will be easier. We have 370 FVT with a membership of 13,467, with most from rural areas.”

With more stations in strategic locations, efforts to save lives and property can be done faster.