‘Be careful with fireworks’


Fire and Rescue Department director general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

Fire Dept: Supervise children, avoid playing in risky areas

PETALING JAYA: As Chinese New Year festivities continue over the weekend, the Fire and Rescue Department is reminding the public to prioritise safety when it comes to playing with fireworks.

Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad urged caution at all times, adding that any use of fireworks should be done in an open space and away from buildings.

“Read the instructions and follow them accordingly. Once lit, stay away from the fireworks.

“Always maintain a safe distance from other people as well,” he said.

He stressed that children should not be left playing with fireworks unsupervised.

“Prepare a fire extinguisher, where possible. Avoid using fireworks in risky areas,” he added.

A VERY LOW BLOW

Nor Hisham said 22 cases of fires due to fireworks were reported in 2023 with 19 cases last year.

“We are actively monitoring public safety in areas where fireworks are used. Inspections are carried out at premises without owners to ensure no fire breaks out,” he said.

He said the department’s nationwide Chinese New Year operations – Ops Selamat Kebangsaan – are currently underway and will last until Feb 2. During this period, the department has stationed emergency response teams at selected locations along the North-South Highway and East Coast Expressway.

Personnel members here are equipped with fire extinguishing and rescue assets.

“Patrols are constantly conducted, and our personnel will be first responders in case of any emergencies,” he said.

Community awareness programmes have also been carried out prior to the celebrations to ensure the public is aware of safety measures at home and on the road during the festivities.

On the continuous rain forecasts for Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan, Nor Hisham said more than 5,000 personnel members are on standby there.

There are also more than 300 of the department’s assets, including heavy vehicles, land and water assets ready for deployment.

Continuous heavy rain has been forecasted in parts of Sarawak and Sabah and is expected to last until today.

More than 7,000 people have been displaced across the two territories, with the majority being due to floods.

A landslide also occurred in Miri on Wednesday, leaving five dead.

The incident, which occurred in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, left 105 victims displaced.

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