SIBU: Firefighters could only save RM1.6 million in property value in the ten 10 longhouse fires recorded in the state from January to July this year.
It translates to a 89 per cent decrease compared to the RM14.9 million in property value saved during the same period last year, much to the disappointment of firefighters.
“We want to show our success, where the amount of property saved is higher than the losses, but in longhouse fires, we rarely manage to save more than what is lost,” said Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) acting director Tiong Ling Hii.
According to him, one of the main difficulties they face in saving property is the speed at which fires spread in longhouses.
He said this at the closing of the Dudong and Bawang Assan community firefighting teams’ training at the Sungai Merah Fire and Rescue Station on Sunday (Aug 25).
Tiong said this year, longhouses recorded about RM7.2 million in property losses due to fires, compared to RM54.4 million last year, a decrease of 86.8 per cent.
He believes the decline reflects the positive impact of programmes carried out by the fire department in collaboration with the public.
“Of the 10 cases that occurred this year, 93 per cent of the (longhouse) doors were involved in the fires, a 54 per cent reduction compared to the number of doors affected by fires last year, which stood at 208 doors.
“This shows a positive development in terms of the number of doors involved,” he said.
Also present were Political Secretary to the Sarawak Premier Joshua Ting Fu Ying representing the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Bawang Assan assemblyman, Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, and Zone 4 Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) chief, Andy Alie.
