Properties worth RM95.3m up in smoke last year, down 72pct
KUCHING: Properties worth RM95.3 million were lost to fires last year compared to RM335.15 million in 2015, a reduction of 71.56 per cent.
S t at e Fi r e a nd Re sc u e Department director Nor Hisham Mohammad said there was also a drastic drop in the estimated value of property saved last year, which was RM184.69 mil lion compared to about RM1.2 billion in 2015.
“In 2015, there was a fire at a smelting plant in Samalaju. The value of the factory was very high and that single fire contributed to a very significant loss. If we add this to the losses incurred in other fire cases, it will show drastic increase but actually the changes are insignificant.
“In fact, our overall performance last year was bet ter,” Nor Hisham told a press conference after attending their annual assembly at their headquarters here yesterday.
In terms of emergency calls, he said although it showed an increase of 4.14 per cent from 5,210 in 2015 to 5,426 calls last year, the number of fire calls attended by them last year had reduced by 5.75 per cent.
Out of the 5,426 emergency calls attended to last year, he said 2,016 were fire calls, 3,201 (rescue calls), 193 (special duties) and 16 (false alarm calls).
“We also managed to reduce the number of fatalities due to fire last year to seven. This is the first time in three years that we managed to reduce the number of fatalities to below 10. Prior to this, the number of fatalities was 12 and 10.”
According to Nor Hisham, fires involving houses continued to be a ‘ nightmare’ for them as the cases continued to be high, adding that 17 fires involving longhouses were recorded in 2016 and 20 fire cases recorded in 2015.
“However, we are thankful that the programmes that we have implemented in longhouses have started to show positive result. This can be seen from the total of ‘ pintu’ that we managed to save. In 2015, there were 63 ‘pintu’ that we managed to save while last year, the number was 144.”
Addit ional ly, he said the estimated amount saved in 2015 was about RM3.3 million and last year it was about RM7.9 million.
Nor Hisham said despite the budget constraints, the department still managed to provide a minimum of three fire extinguishers to about 460 longhouses across the state.
“In areas like Sri Aman and Lubok Antu, the local elected representatives had all sponsored the fire extinguishers. In areas l ike Marudi, Tel ang Usan and Lawas, we have asked for assistance from their local elected representatives to contribute fire extinguishers to the villages. Petronas has also helped much to our programmes.”
Nor Hisham hoped that the local community leaders would also take the initiative to solicit donation from among the villagers to buy fire extinguishers.
“Similarly, village security and development committee (JKKK) may also set aside some al location given to them by their elected representatives to purchase fire extinguishers for use by their villages.”
In 2015, there was a fire at a smelting plant in Samalaju. The value of the factory was very high and that single fire contributed to a very significant loss. If we add this to the losses incurred in other fire cases, it will show drastic increase but actually the changes are insignificant. Nor Hisham Mohammad, State Fire and Rescue Department director