17 volunteer fire stations in need of water pumps

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Nor Hisham (right) presenting a souvenir to Dr Sim after the visit.

Nor Hisham (right) presenting a souvenir to Dr Sim after the visit.

KUCHING: State Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) is facing the challenge of acquiring 17 water pumps for volunteer fire stations which have yet to be equipped with them.

Some of these fire stations have been waiting a very long time, since they were set up five to six years ago.

Bomba state director Nor Hisham Mohammad who revealed this also said that there are 22 volunteer fire stations in the state.

Although firefighters are provided with fire safety jackets and fire hydrant hoses, they are limited in what they can do without the assistance of water pumps.

“The fire hydrants can be used, but the (water) pressure (without water pumps) is not high enough. We need the water pump to

motivate the firefighters, to mobilise them, so that they will feel proud to be part of Bomba,” he said.

The pumps and other facilities are estimated to cost RM1 million.

During a working visit to Tabuan Jaya Bomba station yesterday, Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian told reporters he will bring this and other challenges highlighted by Bomba up to the various relevant authorities including those at ministry, parliament, and state levels.

He said that the visit was very informative in order for him to understand as much as possible about the challenges faced by the department so that he could help.

On another matter, Sim said communities need to be empowered to act first during fires while waiting for Bomba to arrive so that fires can be put out faster.

He said that community Bomba teams could be set up to achieve this goal.

“On average, Bomba will reach the fire location in 17 minutes. While waiting, the community can start work first,” he said, adding that firefighting and rescue is not solely the department’s work but that the community needed to cooperate too.

He also hoped that more organisations could help by becoming voluntary firefighters, setting up community fire stations, and purchasing portable water pumps.

During the visit, Sin announced the children’s fire education programme and Bomba Sarawak Sports and Welfare Association would receive RM10,000 each to conduct their activities.

Meanwhile, there are still 40 vacancies to be filled within the state Bomba.

The intake will be held from July 31 to Aug 2 for physical tests in Miri, Sibu and Kuching.

A total of 2,834 candidates will be called for the intake.

“The more people who turn up, the greater the chance we have to get the best candidates,” Nor Hisham said.

Meanwhile, on women’s involvement in Bomba, he said that gender is not an issue, provided they are resilient and have a high spirit.

“I can name 10 women who prefer doing operations instead of office work,” he said.