Amer (right) sticks the hornbill sticker on to the banner to mark the official launch of the Cadet Camp while Nor Hisham (left), Ellen (centre) and others look on. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa
KUCHING: The Fire and Rescue Department has dealt with a total of 42,684 fire and rescue operations as of June 6 this year which involved 482 deaths.
Its deputy director-general (development) Datuk Amer Yusof said the highest number of deaths occurred in Selangor, followed by Johor and Perak.
“Of the 42,684 cases, 31,335 were fire-related cases, 3,350 involved rescue operations and 7,821 special rescue operations,” he told reporters after officiating at the 25th National-Level Bomba Cadets Camp at Pusat Kokurikulum Kem Santubong yesterday.
“Bush fire constitutes 20,583 cases. The rest were fires to building (properties) with 2,050 cases and others (8,700 cases). This year’s figures surpass cases in the corresponding period last year.”
In Sarawak, the number of emergency calls received during the same period was 1,938 cases which recorded 49 deaths.
He said the number of cases received nationwide had increased during the period – 30,000 cases on average – but the number recorded as of June 6 this year were 31,000 cases.
Amer acknowledged that the weather certainly played a role in contributing to the number of bushfires in the country.
He said at the height of bush fires last year, more than 500 calls were received compared to about 300 on other days. Selangor recorded the highest number followed by Terengganu and Pahang.
Earlier in his speech to some 640 Bomba Cadets from various schools in the country, Amer said that programme organised by them and the Education Department was meant to generate a fire safety culture among young people and to raise awareness on how to control and prevent fire from spreading.
He said the programmes would allow the cadets to have knowledge and skills in the event of an emergency. He hoped they would spread the knowledge to their friends and families.
Carrying the theme ‘Catalyst for Strengthening the Safety Culture on Fire’ (Pemangkin Pengukuhan Budaya Keselamatan Kebakaran), 159,963 cadets from 1,428 secondary schools nationwide participate in the five-day national camp which will end on June 13.
Of the total, 12,526 Bomba Cadets from 97 secondary schools came from Sarawak.
During the programme, the cadets will be involved in seven drills to include foot drill, challenging aspects, marching, brain and brawn challenge, cadet challenge, alliance and knot rope.
Bomba assistant general director of training section Mohamad Hamdan Wahid, State Bomba director Nor Hisham Mohamad, State Education Department head of human resource management Ellen Engang, State Education Department head of school curricullum Abit Hong were among those who were present at the function.