SANDAKAN: The efficiency and preparedness of the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department were demonstrated when they successfully handled three separate emergency cases across different locations in East Coast Sabah within a single day on November 9.
The first operation began in Sandakan when the Sandakan Fire and Rescue Station received an emergency MERS999 call at 2.30 pm regarding a car fire at Jalan Lintas Sibuga.
According to Operations Commander, PBK I Chauslim Sunsubin, the team arrived at the location within 21 minutes and found a car completely destroyed by fire.
“The fire was brought under control within three minutes using a single hose reel,” explained Chauslim. The operation, which involved nine personnel, concluded at 3.11 pm.
Meanwhile, the Tawau Fire and Rescue Station personnel were dispatched to Jalan Apas Batu 3 Setengah, Tawau following a report of a lorry fire at 3.45 pm. Operations Commander PBK I Suheizan Sahak reported two burning lorries – a 10-ton lorry (25% burned) and a 3-ton lorry (100% destroyed).
“We conducted firefighting operations using a 200-foot hose with two jets from the fire engine,” explained Suheizan. Seven personnel succeeded in containing the fire by 4.10 pm.
In Kinabatangan, the Fire and Rescue Station received a call about a road accident at Jalan Kg Bilit Sukau at 5.35 pm. A four-wheel-drive vehicle had apparently skidded and overturned.
Operations Commander PBK II Mohd Redzuan Abu Bakar explained, “The victims had been rescued and sent to the hospital by members of the public and the KKM ambulance before our arrival.”
The firemen only conducted safety checks before concluding the operation at 6.28 pm with the assistance of four fire personnel, two PDRM personnel, and two KKM personnel.
Overall, a total of 20 personnel were involved in the day’s operations, proving the capability of the state’s emergency response team to handle multiple incidents simultaneously across different locations.
There were no immediate reports of casualties in the three cases. – James Leong
