KUCHING: There is no such thing as an ocean too wide or a mountain too high when it comes to the men and women of the State Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba Sarawak).
From assisting a mischievous cat stuck on a tree branch to providing first aid to accident victims and putting out fires, these brave men and women are sincere, passionate and dedicated in fulling their duties of saving lives.
Bomba Sarawak holds dear to the principle of there being no such thing as a small emergency.
Its personnel would urgently attend to every call it receives and this includes calls regarding fallen tree branches and uprooted trees that put the public’s safety at risk.
In recent years, the department has assisted in numerous operations to remove fallen tree branches and uprooted trees.
Bomba Sarawak has assisted in 406 cases of fallen and uprooted trees in 2021, the same figures were also recorded in 2022. In 2020, there were 478 cases reported.
While one might wonder why the department is responding to such calls, Bomba Sarawak director Datuk Khirudin Drahman explained that it is one of the department’s duties as stated in the Fire Services Act 1988 (Act 341).
Under Section 5(1)(c) of the Act, it stated that the duties of Bomba shall include performing humanitarian services including the protection of life and property in any calamity.
“Looking at the trend in recent years, responding to calls or emergencies of fallen trees have been increasing. These fallen trees often cause damages to properties, structures, vehicles and sometimes may even involve casualties.
“As such cases pose threats to the public’s safety, we will respond accordingly and it is considered as special services,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
While the local councils have their own special team to handle such cases, Khirudin pointed out that the public is equally comfortable to reach out to Bomba Sarawak for assistance.
He said this positive development illustrates how the public has a high level of confidence in the department and views its personnel as friends.
“Due to the emergency nature of such cases, the public would usually make a call to Bomba Sarawak. Each call is responded to and urgently because it is the nature of our business.
“To the public, they do not care whether you are wearing red, blue, yellow, or green. What they want is a government agency or department to respond to their needs,” he said.
All Bomba personnel are trained on the basics of handling and servicing equipment like chainsaws needed for cutting and trimming trees.
At the supervisor level, personnel undergo special courses on dendrology (the scientific study of trees) and horticulture which adds value to the department’s services.
Khirudin said this enables the department to collaborate with and advise local councils by sharing information based on previous operations.
“Normally, the government and people want to see greenery in the cities and towns, but at the same time this may pose some danger to pedestrians, road users and homeowners.
“Therefore, we work closely with the local councils because our trained personnel are able to identify the trees that may expose public to dangers,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bomba Sarawak Special Operations Unit Head PBT Karim Mohamad disclosed the case of fallen tree branches or uprooted trees could happen any time, but it is more likely during stormy and windy weather.
He said when there are calls made, the nearest fire station to the location would go and assist.
“For such cases, there are six to seven personnel involved in the operation. Depending on the size of the tree, the operation would be about an hour or so.
“After trimming or cutting the tree, we will remove the pieces and clear the location so that it does not obstruct traffic flow and pose any risks to the public,” he explained.
Karim mentioned for cases involving properties or structures, the operation duration would be slightly longer.
On the challenges faced during operation, he said cases involving electricity poles and cables require the team to be more cautious.
He said the relevant agencies such as Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) and Sesco would deploy their officers to assist.
“They would assist in disconnecting the electricity flow before we can proceed with the trimming and cutting works,” he said.
Karim advised the public to be cautious and get in touch with the local councils and agencies if there are large trees that appear vulnerable within the proximity of their residence.
“It is better to be safe than sorry, there is no telling when a large or an old tree might collapse. Therefore, it is crucial to contact the local councils to carry out regular maintenance works on the landscape within its jurisdiction,” he said.
