KUCHING: The State Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba Sarawak) will continue advocacy and awareness efforts on the importance of each household having a fire extinguisher and smoke detector.
Bomba Sarawak director Datuk Khirudin Drahman said only 5.3 per cent of households in Sarawak are equipped with fire extinguishers and only 1.9 per cent have smoke detectors installed.
He said these statistics is according to the Basic Amenities Survey Report 2022 by the Statistics Department which was published in September this year.
“This means approximately 95 per cent of households in Sarawak do not have a fire extinguisher. While the government or the department does not mandate having a fire extinguisher or smoke detector in a home, it is often the first line of defence against a fire.
“Fire does not select its victim. The saying ‘it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it’ is very relevant to whether a home should be equipped with a fire extinguisher and smoke detector – the choice is up to you,” he told the New Sarawak Tribune on Wednesday (Dec 20).
Noting how a fire extinguisher and smoke detector are affordable, Khirudin pointed out that there is a need for a shift in mindset among members of the public in this matter.
He said it is worrying that only a small percentage of homes have fire safety equipment considering how most people spend majority of their time at home.
“Having a large television or high quality sofa set is not a necessity, but it enhances one’s quality of living. According to the Malaysian Fire Protection Association (MFPA), a person spends an average of 12 to 16 hours at home each day.
“As such, it is crucial to have protection against residential fire. Not many people realise this, but fire extinguishers and smoke detectors can significantly assist in the intervention of fire at an early stage.
“The department has always emphasised on how the first five minutes of a fire incident will determine the extent of damage to property and contributes significantly in prevention of the loss of lives,” he said.
From January to November this year, Bomba Sarawak received 1,989 calls for fire cases with the highest number of calls at Tabuan Jaya Fire Station followed by Petra Jaya Fire Station and Kota Samarahan Fire Station.
