Ahmad Izram inspects the parade at Balai Bomba Sungai Merah during his working visit today.
SIBU (Nov 21): The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) is stepping up its preparedness to tackle electric vehicle (EV) fires, an emerging challenge as more EVs hit Malaysian roads.
Speaking to reporters during a working visit to the Sungai Merah fire station this morning, Bomba Deputy Director (Operations) Dato’ Ir Ts Ahmad Izram Osman said the department has been enhancing its capabilities over the past two years to ensure firefighters are equipped to handle such incidents.
“We started preparing for EV fire response quite some time ago. In fact, for the past two years we have been working towards building the right skills and knowledge to handle these cases.” he said.
Ahmad Izram revealed that Bomba initially sent a group of trainers to China for a two-week Train of Trainers (TOT) course specifically focused on EV fire management.
This specialised training produced certified instructors who can now train personnel nationwide, he added.
In addition, Bomba has been conducting EV-focused firefighting and investigation courses at the Central Region Fire and Rescue Academy in Kuala Kubu Bahru, Selangor, and the Eastern Fire and Rescue Academy in Wakaf Tapai, Terengganu.
He acknowledged the strong cooperation from EV manufacturers in supporting these training efforts.
“We’re thankful to EV companies like BYD for working with us in our investigation training.
“Tesla too will also be joining us soon, and this collaboration is important because it helps us find the best methods to handle EV fire incidents,” he revealed.
Explaining the unique challenges of EV fires, he noted that they do not behave like fires in conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
“ICE vehicles follow the fire triangle principle, but EVs don’t.
“EV fires are caused by thermal runaway, and with thousands of battery cells linked together, it becomes very challenging to extinguish without the right techniques and medium,” he said.
Bomba recorded 27 EV and hybrid vehicle fire cases between 2023 and July this year, averaging about 10 incidents annually.
During the visit, Ahmad Izram also addressed Bomba’s preparedness for the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) season.
“We prepared early, our logistics, assets and manpower were all strengthened ahead of time.
“Even before the monsoon was declared, we were already dealing with pre-MTL conditions in September and October, so our teams were on alert,” he said.
Early flooding in several areas prompted proactive patrols and assessments, allowing Bomba to refine response strategies ahead of the full monsoon, expected to last until March.
Also present were Bomba Sarawak Director, Jamri Masran, Sibu Bomba Zone 4 chief Andy Alie and Sungai Merah fire station chief Abdul Mutalif Ja’afar.