Most firemen on duty during Raya

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 80% of firemen nationwide have had their leave frozen in preparation for any emergency during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.

Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Abdul Wahab Mat Yasin said beginning yesterday, the leave of 10,174 officers and personnel would be frozen until April 30.

“To prevent fires during the festive season, we are conducting a fire safety awareness campaign targeted at housing communities, business centres and others.

“The public is reminded to always improve the fire safety aspects at their premises and homes before returning to their hometown,” he told Bernama.

Apart from the physical campaign, the department is also conducting awareness programmes through social media platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, YouTube and TikTok.

“The risk of fire increases during festive seasons and it is important for all parties to increase their awareness on the importance of fire safety measures,” he added.

Asked if the department has identified any fire-prone areas, Abdul Wahab said no structural fire hotspots can be identified as fires can be caused by several factors.

“However, we are prepared and take into account popular spots for Hari Raya and Ramadan. We have also increased enforcement by conducting inspections to eliminate fire hazards to prevent fires,” he said.

In addition, the department will carry out scheduled patrols along the North-South Expressway and the East Coast Expressway to speed up its response time during emergencies.