Malaysia fire brigade service was established in 1883 under the Establishment of the Fire Brigade Voluntary Service of Selangor which was headed by HF Bellamy (British Military Administration) with 15 members. This team was placed under Sanitary Board and has turned into Pasukan Bomba dan Penyelamat Tetap in year 1895.
The service continued expanding in every state and was placed under Municipal Council or Rural Board. The Bomba at Batu Lintang has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of Kuching region from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response to biological, chemical and radioactive hazards with approximately 72 uniformed officers and firefighters. It faces an extraordinarily varied challenge.
In addition to responding to building types that range from wood-frame single family homes to high-rise structures, there are the many bridges and tunnels, large parks and wooded areas that can give rise to major brush fires on the planet. These challenges add yet another level of firefighting complexity and have led to the creation of the vision for FRS Batu Lintang is “to be a world-class fire and rescue organization” and well as its Mission “to provide full commitment to fire and rescue services with professional and excellent achievement as well as performing humanitarian services in any calamity.”
On the date 23rd April 2011, Swinburne Sarawak IET Student Chapter had organise a visit to the Fire and Rescue Station in Batu Lintang, Kuching. About 20 student members and together with our Advisor, Dr. Kho Yau Hee MIET visited the BOMBA to get to know its operation and how emergency calls are co-ordinated.
After going through an introductory presentation about the BOMBA organisation, we then visited the on-site call centre to explore how the phone operating system works – how a call is logged, dispatched and the rescue squad alerted. We also had the opportunity to see various modes of fire engine – trucks, motorcycles and boats.
Towards the end of the visit, we were challenged to have a go at a marching competition with the secondary school-based ‘young BOMBA members’ who were having on site marching drills. Seeing that our competitors are highly trained, however, all of us shy away from the challenge.^.^|||
IT WAS A GREAT DAY, AS I GAIN A LOT OF EXPERIENCES….