Nine ‘injured’ in Tawau Hospital fire drill
TAWAU: Nine people were injured while another 50 escaped unhurt when a morning fire broke out at an intergration store of the district hospital here.
Those injured were evacuated from the fire drill conducted by the hospital in a collaboration with about 10 government agencies and Non-Governmental Agencies (NGOs) which involved about 150 personnel.
The district fire and rescue department received a call at 9.15am and sent out six fire engines and assistance vehicles together with 23 firemen to the scene.
They arrived at the scene at 9.18am and carried out rescue work until the fire was put out at 10.40am.
In the simulation, the fire spread to the adjoining chemicals supply room and caused an explosion. Smoke spread to the main building of hospital and ward.
Eight patients were evacuated safely from the ward. They could also use the lifts in the main building.
It was learnt that the director of Tawau hospital was not around when the fire incident happened.
The police were at the scene to control the public and traffic. A command post also was set up to monitor the progress of rescue effort.
However, the operation ended up at 10.55am.
In a press conference later, Tawau Hospital Director Dr Norlimah Arsad said the fire drill was aimed at testing the effectiveness and agility of the agencies including the hospitalÆ’s staff in overcoming fire incident.
Yet, she said the fire drill had achieved its objectives in terms of the application of disaster operation management system, indeed, with a high commitment and effectiveness of the agencies involved.
However, she said a postmortem would be held to analyze the weaknesses and shortcomings of the drill, so as to improve and prepare to overcome when there is a real fire.
Norlimah hoped such fire drill could be held annually.
Meanwhile, the district health department officer G. Navindran also disclosed that the Tawau Hospital should contact the nearby hospital immediately for standby in sending patients there if there is a fire.
A public assembly should also be set up near the scene of incident.