10 more fire stations for Sabah in next five years

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Nordin (left) presenting a certificate to Ariffin Harris who was among 12 retirees as Wan Mohd Nor (second left) looks on.

KOTA KINABALU: Ten fire stations are expected to be built in Sabah within the next five years.

Disclosing this here yesterday, Malaysia Fire and Rescue Director General Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Hj Ibrahim said there were plans to build 10 more fire stations in the state in the next five years.

“Currently there are 21 fire stations in Sabah, plus four more which are under construction and should be completed within this year and next year.

“If everything goes as planned, we will have 10 more fire stations in Sabah by 2021,” he said.

Wan Mohd Nor said this in a press conference after presenting awards and certificates to 12 Fire and Rescue Department officers and personnel, and 12 Fire and Rescue officers who would be retiring at the state Fire and Rescue Department Headquarters in Kolombong, here yesterday.

Also present were Sabah Fire and Rescue Department director Nordin Pauzi and Sabah Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Zuraidah Latip.

When asked on the status of the four additional fire stations under construction, namely in Beluran, Kimanis, Sook and Pitas, Wan Mohd Nor said two of the stations were expected to be in operation by end of this year.

“The Beluran fire station is about 95 percent completed while Kimanis is not far behind at 93 percent.

“For Sook and Pitas, both stations have just started construction and are between 15 percent and 10 percent completed respectively,” he said, adding that both the stations were expected to be completed by September next year.

When asked about the drought situation in the state, Nordin said the department had not received many calls as it was still at its earlier stage.

“We will be expecting lots of call within the next several weeks leading to the drought situation where there will be many bush fires.

“Actually, I made an announcement in a local radio recently on ways the public can help the department in preventing fire from happening in the first place.

“One way is to stop open burning, or if there is a need to burn rubbish then control the flame, inform the Fire and Rescue Department of any bush fire immediately so we can contain it immediately,” he said.