KUCHING: What do firemen do when there are no fires to put out? Does anyone even think about their existence when there are no emergencies?
Fire chief Datuk Khirudin Drahman, who has registered 33 years of service in the Fire and Rescue Department, knows better than anyone else that there is much public misconception out there.
And he wants to put things in perspective in conjunction with the 2022 World Fire Day celebration.
“Often the perception of firefighters is that only when there is a fire, the people will remember us.
“With this, there is a misconception that the fire brigade has nothing to do if there is no emergency,” he said yesterday.
And in the event of a blaze, firefighters also face the challenge of often being blamed for the tragedy, even if they have nothing to do with the cause.
“Therefore, we are trying to change such misconceptions by educating the public and making friends with them.
“I personally believe that through education, the people will have a better understanding and be able to support our job,” he said.
The 2022 World Fire Day is celebrated with the theme “Malaysian Family Fire Front-liners”.
