KUCHING: Longhouse community must take note on the importance of having a house protection insurance policy as protection, said State Fire and Rescue Department director Khirudin Drahman.
He said Bomba has been advocating proactive measures to educate the longhouse community on fire safety and protection through various initiatives.
“Currently only 95 longhouses have purchased house insurance under the Allianz KampungKu plan,” he said in statement today.
Khirudin also pointed out that fire extinguishers should be made available even in residential areas.
“The fire protection tools and safety education should come together. Having the tools but not knowing how to operate them will not help.
“Fire protection tools such as fire extinguishers and fire blankets should be handy at buildings and residential areas. The building layout too should provide more fire-escape friendly design,” he added.
Khirudin stressed that the department will intensify its education and awareness on first aid fire safety campaign, through collaborations.
“By going around residential areas, this will help to increase community awareness on fire safety and protection especially people living in the longhouses,” he said.
To date, Bomba has implemented 12 series programmes under Fire Safety Awareness and Prevention Programmes, which involved 55 teams with 633 members.
“1,715 participants were involved in 11 programme initiated under the Fire Point.
“For Longhouse Community Fire and Rescue Campaign, we had organised seven programmes, as well as the Summer Camp which had gathered 55 participants.
“We also managed to organise Community Emergency response Team (CERT) programme with 400 attendees,” he elaborated.
He also urged the community to take preventive actions to reduce the possibility of fire incident.
“It is crucial to continue pressing and reminding them that fire incident or tragedy never choose their victim
“We will need to work harder in changing the community’s mindset on the importance of fire safety,” he added.
