Sunday May 12, 2013

Fire extinguishers for villages in central Sarawak

SIBU: The Fire and Rescue Department will provide fire extinguishers for Malay/Melanau villages in central Sarawak.

These extinguishers would be stored in booths at certain places throughout Sibu, Mukah, Kapit and Sarikei, said local fire chief Senior Superintendent I Abdul Mutalib Rashid.

“For this year alone, we have targeted to provide fire extinguishers for 18 places which are called firepoints. Each of them will have at least two or three 3kg fire extinguishers which are easy to handle even by women. In fact, anybody can use them.”

The project is necessary because village houses are mostly wooden ones, and if one catches fire, it is vital to contain the fire at a minimum level to prevent it from spreading to other houses before firefighters arrive.

To teach the public how to use the fire extinguishers, the department would assign its personnel to train them, said Mutalib.

To start the project, the first firepoint would be set up in Jalan Pa’ Dris at Kampung Hilir here. This will be launched on May 18.

“It should be remembered that although fire extinguishers are handy, their effectiveness is somewhat limited. They cannot totally replace firefighters. People still have to call 999 to inform the department about fires.”

He also said that similar projects had been implemented at Dayak longhouses much earlier because they could not be reached by fire engines.

News

Sunday May 12, 2013

Fire extinguishers for villages in central Sarawak