KUCHING: Sarawak has over 200 volunteer Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) teams throughout the state which have proven their ability in helping to control fires.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin revealed this when replying to Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni during her winding-up session in Parliament, Putrajaya on Tuesday.
In a report carried by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), she explained that these volunteer Bomba teams had been trained, provided with basic equipment and fire extinguishers, and were able to prevent fires from spreading at an early stage.
She said that these teams had proven their ability when they successfully extinguished four cases of longhouse fires which occurred in Kanowit and Saratok.
“There are four records here of these teams extinguishing fires at four longhouses,” she said.
Zuraida called on all MPs to help form more volunteer Bomba teams and community Bomba teams.
On Lukanisman’s suggestion for a programme to be created so that women would be involved in the volunteer Bomba teams at longhouses, Zuraida said the involvement of more groups is always welcomed.
She said she had visited almost 100 fire stations to convey the message of the involvement of women in the Bomba teams.
She pointed out that there were duties which required women’s expertise such as counselling and caring for children and traumatised women.
