SARIKEI: The local Fire and Rescue Department strives to have all its assets in excellent condition at all times, apart from its focus on ensuring the availability and functionality of fire hydrants in residential areas here.
District chief Suna Kaha stressed this when chairing the department’s first station management meeting here for this year last Wednesday.
“We want to ensure that all fire hydrants are functional at all times, while identifying areas that need new ones.
“Based on our inventory, we already have 1,198 hydrants installed across the district, including 10 units that we have found to be not working properly, which we will repair immediately,” he said, adding that the department planned to install another seven units this year.
However, he said his side was still identifying the locations for the new hydrants.
In this respect, Suna also hoped to engage more volunteers for its ‘Rakan Pili’ programme, acknowledging their role in helping the department to look after and maintain the fire hydrants across this district.
“We are targeting to register 140 ‘Rakan Pili’ members this year. Those interested can come to the Sarikei station,” he said.
On another note, Suna expressed confidence that the station here would be able to achieve the High Performance Organisation ( HPO) status, given that their manpower had been enhanced by the recruitment of 12 auxiliary fire officers (PPB) late last year.
“With additional personnel, the station is able to operate on three 12-hour shifts, which means it would be less burdensome for our staff,” he said.
Going forward, Suna said it was the department’s greatest hope that there would not be calamities such as major fire or accident, although his men had taken all steps to improve the quality of their services and were ready to face any eventuality.
In that respect, he advised the local folk to learn basic knowledge of firefighting and prevention of fire, practise good housekeeping, exercise care while driving and ensure the roadworthiness of their vehicles at all times.