New fire station opens at Surakul
A NEW FIRE STATION AT Surakul Stadium was officially opened on Feb 10, amid much fanfare and a monk blessing ceremony.
Rewat Areerob, President of the
Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor),
presided over the opening ceremony, joined by Wichit Mayor Kreetha Chotiwichpipan, heads of local government offices and local village headmen (Phu Yai Baan).
Officially called the “The Phuket
of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre (Surakul Centre)”, the new firefighting “centre” is located behind Surakul Stadium, on Ekwanit Rd.
Construction of the building, 13.5 metres wide and 14m long, began in 2019 and the centre started
providing firefighting services in September last year.
On display for the opening were
the firefighters stationed at the centre and much of the firefighting equipment they have been provided.
Oddly, not on display was a vehicle for the firefighters to use, though an official announcement by Wichit Municipality assured that they had one.
The centre aims to help reduce response times to emergency calls in the area, which includes the Central Festival Phuket and Central Floresta shopping malls, said the announcement.
Wichit has two other fire stations in the municipality: one at Sri Phuwanat Park on Pattana Thongtin Rd (Tel: 076-525199), the other at Ao
Makham (Tel: 076-684443).
The municipality has in total 31 firefighters, with teams assigned to two shifts, covering responses needed 24 hours a day.
The new fire station at Surakul can be contacted at 076-540889.
Fires anywhere across the island can be reported by calling the 199 hotline.