Two-day carnival gives public a glimpse into world of firefighting, emergency response
FROM eager children waiting to explore fire engines to families snapping photos beside rescue helicopters, the national-level International Firefighters Day celebration in Johor Baru was more than just a public showcase of assets.
Held at the outdoor compound of Angsana Mall, the two-day carnival gave visitors a rare glimpse into the realities of firefighting and emergency response work.
Among those spotted exploring the activities was 14-year-old Aminul Danish Heinlinzaw, who said the celebration inspired a dream of becoming a firefighter.
“I am very excited because this is my first time attending a programme like this.
“I held a snake for the first time and learned many new things about firefighters.
“I also learned how they handle dangerous situations and rescue people – it made me more interested in joining the service in future,” said the teen, who attended the event with his mother and two brothers.
Aminul Danish added that he was fascinated by the department’s rescue vehicles, machinery and emergency tools, including spreaders used during rescue operations.
Echoing a similar view was kindergarten teacher Siti Hairulnisa Mohd Shukri, 28, who said the programme gave children valuable early exposure to emergency services in a fun, interactive environment.
Siti Hairulnisa, who brought 22 pupils accompanied by four other teachers, said educational programmes like these were important as children rarely had the opportunity to interact directly with firefighters and rescue equipment.
“The children can play and learn at the same time; it is fun for them as they are able to understand what firefighters do.
“This is my first time attending such a programme and I will definitely come again next year if there are more games and interactive activities for children,” she said.
Meanwhile, project manager M. Sivakumar, 56, described the event as both entertaining and educational.
Attending the celebration with three family members, he said visitors were given a rare opportunity to see the Fire and Rescue Department’s assets up close, including helicopters, boats and heavy machinery.
“We learned more about assets owned by the department.
“Everybody came together to enjoy the celebration and learn more about firefighting,” he said.
Businessman Ang Chee Soon, 37, said he was surprised by the scale of the celebration after arriving as early as 6am with his wife and son to join a run held in conjunction with the event.
“I think one of the main highlights was the helicopter exhibit, which attracted strong interest from visitors throughout the day.
“You would normally not be able to see a helicopter as up close, so that was very interesting,” he said.
“I was also surprised by the number of emergency vehicles displayed during the event.”
Despite enjoying the overall experience, Ang pointed out that several activity areas became overcrowded while queues for games were too long, causing some children to become tired.
For supervisor S. Yuventhiran, 36, the event was especially meaningful as it allowed him to spend quality time with his five-year-old son, who has always been interested in firefighting.
“My son was very excited throughout the event.
“It was interesting to watch how the firefighters handle emergency situations.
“This was a new experience for both of us and we would gladly come again,” he said.
Yuventhiran added that the rescue demonstrations involving building evacuation scenarios were among the most memorable parts.
Insurance agent Angie Ng, 45, attending with her husband and two children, described the programme as a good family outing that helped children learn about safety and emergency response.
She said the children especially enjoyed seeing the helicopters and learning how fires were extinguished.
“Events like this are important because children can learn about safety awareness from a young age,” she said.
However, Ng suggested that organisers improve waste management and take measures to reduce overcrowding should the event be held again next year.
For firefighters on duty, the carnival was a chance to engage with the public while educating them about safety awareness.
Captain Safri Ramli, 51, from the department’s Central Region Air Base, said he was glad to answer questions from the public about his work.
“They mainly ask what we do at the air division and what it is like responding to a rescue call.
“I am more than happy to answer their questions as I see this as a good opportunity to give the people a glimpse into our lives and may even inspire some to join us,” said Safri.
“I had some visitors, including young children, asking me how to become a firefighter after being inspired by what they had seen and learned here,” he said.
Pontian fire station’s Mohammad Nor Hanafi Jamaluddin, 29, who was manning a booth displaying rescue tools, said he also received similar enquiries about recruitment.
“Apart from asking about the tools and some advice on fire safety, the most common question I got from visitors was about how to become a firefighter.
“I am pleasantly surprised and proud to know that many are interested in becoming one of us.
“Every time someone asks me about it, I give them all the information they need, including where to sign up and the level of physical fitness needed to be eligible,” said Nor Hanafi.
He was also glad to be able to give members of the public one-to-one talks on fire safety, including ways to avoid car fires.
“The most important thing is to always have a functional fire extinguisher in your car as a precaution.
“It may even come in handy when helping others whose vehicles catch fire,” he advised.
For Nek Nur Hakim Nek Zahiruddin, 34, from Selangor Fire and Rescue Department, the carnival also served as a platform to debunk safety myths.
Nek Nur Hakim, an instructor with the King Cobra Squad specialising in snake handling, said the team frequently educates the public about reptiles.
“A carnival like this allows us to share such information with the public, who may believe certain myths about snakes that are untrue or do not apply to reptile species found in Malaysia.
“Through engagements like this, we get to tell them what is true and what is not, allowing people to better protect themselves, including preventing the reptiles from entering their homes,” he said.
