KUANTAN: A total of 15,724 out of 422,472 fire hydrants nationwide are damaged and need to be replaced, says the Fire and Rescue Department.
Its director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said this included fire hydrants being paved with either tar, soil or sand; leaks due to broken or blocked pipes as well as non-functioning valve spindles.
“These are four main types of damage which require high maintenance provisions, namely, those involving fire hydrant chambers, valves, outlet threads and poles, and also upgrading underground fire hydrants to above-ground fire hydrants.
“For small fire hydrant damage such as the chamber being filled with sand, soil or rubbish, firemen who conduct inspections will continue to clean the hydrants, to ensure they are good for use,” he said, in a Bernama report.
The cost of maintenance for a damaged fire hydrant unit is estimated to be between RM1,000 and RM5,000, depending on the location, he said when met by reporters after officiating the 2023 Pahang Fire and Rescue Department Excellent Service Award ceremony at the state headquarters here yesterday.
