Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King (right) looks on as firemen carry an ‘injured’ victim during a firepoint programme in this file picture.
SIBU: The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) has completed four summer camps this year to train local contacts in fire-fighting and prevention strategies.
According to Sarawak Bomba director Nor Hisham Mohammad, two more programmes are coming up – one each in Miri and Sri Aman.
“This year, we have completed the summer camp programme in Kapit, Lawas, Bintulu (Belaga) and Serian.
“We find summer camps very effective to establish and train local responders. When there is a fire outbreak, they will first clear access path like roads for fire-fighters to come through.
“Equipped with knowledge in fire-fighting, they can also help extinguish or prevent it from spreading while waiting for us to arrive,” Nor Hisham told thesundaypost on Friday.
On the effectiveness of the programme, Nor Hisham said summer camps gives them more time to train participants on fire safety and techniques in fire-fighting.
“For example, we train them in the proper, safe way of using a fire extinguisher.”
On the fire-point programme, he assured this was on-going to galvanise the community-based approach in fighting fires.
A fire point is created at a common and strategic area, where portable fire extinguishers are mounted and easily accessible for emergencies.
The programme also helps cascade down important information to people on fire safety and prevention, he said.
The first fire point in Sibu was installed at a house in Kampung Pa’dris in May 2013, followed by a second one at Surau Darul Ma’wa, Kampung Baharu.
File picture shows fire-fighters rescuing a ‘trapped victim’ during a fire point programme.