Rural community encouraged to be volunteer firefighters
KUCHING: The Housing and Local Government Ministry is encouraging the rural community, particularly those staying in longhouses, to take up training as volunteer firefighters to assist in fire fighting operation.
Housing and Local Government Minister’s special officer Voon Shiak Ni said this is in view that longhouse fire is a worrying concern and there is a need for everyone to take extra precaution especially during dry season.
She said statistics from the Fire and Rescue Department showed that the number of longhouse fires had been on the rise.
Quoting statistics, she said in 2015, the number of longhouse fire cases recorded was 17 cases and increased to 20 in 2016 while last year, the number of cases increased further to 26 and 10 cases were recorded as of May this year.
“The worrying concern of the longhouse fires has been raised by the Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief Law Poh Kiong during a dialogue session with us in Miri two weeks ago.
“The rising number of longhouse fires raised has been noted by the minister Zuraida Kamaruddin and her ministry. The matter was also brought up by our Saratok MP and Krian assemblyman Ali Biju to the minister and her ministry personally,” Voon said in a press conference here yesterday.
She said all the points raised would be discussed in the ministry, including measures to improve the fire fighting facilities and efforts to prevent longhouse fire.
“We also call on more volunteers to come forward to be part of the fire fighting team and training will be given to them.”
Voon said the role of volunteer firefighters is very important as they will be the first responders while waiting for the Fire and Rescue Department personnel to arrive at the scene.
“We understand that due to logistics issue, the response time (for the Fire and Rescue Department personnel to arrive at the scene) can be slower and therefore, a good team of volunteer firefighters is crucial.”