Bomba: Hazmat team on standby to deal with Wuhan coronavirus outbreak

0

Khirudin (third right) seen with Tiong (third left) and other officers during the press conference today. Photo by Muhd Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: The Fire and Rescue Department’s (Bomba) Hazardous Material Unit Team (Hazmat) is ready for action if required to help contain a possible outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus in the state.

State director Khirudin Drahman said that the department has 58 Hazmat personnel stationed in Tabuan Jaya and Bintulu on standby.

“We have a team who are well-trained as well as equipment to help out in handling the outbreaks. For example when Malaysians arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from Wuhan yesterday (Feb 4), Bomba personnel assisted Health Ministry officials in various ways such as disinfecting their arrivals in the country,” he said in a press conference after officiating the annual state-level Bomba Marching Ceremony at the Bomba headquarters in Tabuan Jaya here today.

While other teams from Bomba could also provide assistance, Khirudin said that only the Hazmat team were put on standby for now.

“Although we cannot afford to let our guard down, I must praise the State Disaster Management Committee for the ongoing efforts in preventing the novel coronavirus from spreading here to the state. I would like assure the committee that they have all our support,” he said.

Hazmat is a special unit established by Bomba in 1992 and deals with chemical hazards as well as the handling of hazardous chemical spills, radiation leaks, extinguishing fires with hazardous chemical elements and addressing CBRNe (Chemical, Biological, Nuclear Exposure).

Earlier, in his speech during the marching ceremony, Khirudin said that handling outbreaks such as the novel coronavirus required “integrated mitigation” such as team preparedness and emergency agencies such as Bomba services.

“We need to prepare and equip the emergency team with the best protection against fire fighting, rescue and humanitarian work.

“Apart from ensuring our equipment, hand tools and systems and proper working procedures are executed properly, aspects of environmental, safety, risk and health of members should be also given high attention,” he said.

Among those present was state Bomba assistant director Tiong Ling Hii.