Firefighting
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Firefighters come to the rescue of the general public during a hazardous fire. This is one of the main emergency services provided 24 hours, free of charge.
Firefighting involves first aid fire appliances to more advanced systems. First aid fire appliances are the primary equipment used at the first instance of a fire. When the firefighters get an alert via the emergency number, the caller’s name, contact details, location of the incident will be noted down by the Fire Department – this is for the purpose of re-checking with the caller. While this is being done, the fire crew is alerted via a siren and once the details are confirmed, within 30 seconds the firefighting crew will receive the second alert. At this point, the crew will be dispatched with the fire truck, which has a water capacity of 2000, 3000 or 4000 litres.
There will be six members in the fire truck – the OIC, fire truck operator and four fire fighters. In addition, there will be a water bowser and its crew accompanying and assisting the fire truck crew. Given that there may be people trapped inside the fire location, a rescue team with an ambulance will also be dispatched to the location.
Firefighting requires equipment such as a fire hose, fire axe, fire padlock remover, breathing apparatus, in addition to the fire extinguishers. These fire extinguishers come in four colours – red, blue, cream and black. The red colour extinguisher consists of water and is used to douse a solid fire involving paper, wood, plastic and cloth. Meanwhile the cream coloured special extinguisher with foam is used to extinguish liquid fires involving petrol, diesel, thinner and oil. This will release foam bubbles to cover the oil surface on fire. In the blue extinguisher, you find a dry chemical powder and this is used to extinguish vehicle or oil fires covering a large area, while the black extinguisher with CO2 gas is used to extinguish any small oil fire or electric fire.
Firefighters are generally seen clad in a special uniform, including a helmet and boots. If there is heavy smoke, the firefighter will wear the breathing apparatus too. This fire kit is heat protected but you can not flame walk wearing this kit. There is a separate white kit for the purpose of walking through a fire. Pix by Anuradha Bandara
Inside the ambulance
Using a water hose