KUCHING, The construction of a Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) in Bario, which is a highland area in the interiors north of Sarawak, is still under study, said Sarawak director of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Datuk Khirudin Drahman.
He said a risk assessment has to be carried out first to see if the project is suitable to be implemented there.
He said the risk assessment will look at several criteria. including the number of people and buildings, as well as economic activity in the area.
“At the moment the establishment of a Volunteer Fire Brigade (PBS) is still relevant in Bario based on the existing risks and also the statistics of fire cases which are still small there.
“Bario currently still does not meet the construction requirements (for a new BBP) unless special consideration is given by the federal government,” he told Bernama.
He was asked about the need to build a fire and rescue station in Bario following the fire at the residence of the Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier
‘s Department Datuk Gerawat Gala in Pa’ Umor, Bario, last April 14.
According to JBPM, the residence is located about 460 kilometres via logging road from the Marudi Fire and Rescue Station, which is the nearest station.
Depending on the weather conditions, the land journey to the location of the incident from BBP Marudi takes 20 hours.
There were no casualties as the six people who were at home at the time managed to escape.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency