Opening Of New Fire Station For Airport
By P Marilyn

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei's Minister of Communications Pehin Dato Seri Setia Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong yesterday officiated the opening of a new fire station for Brunei International Airport at the Department of Civil Aviation in Berakas.

The new fire station is a replacement for the airport's old one, which has been in operation since 1974 and is currently in an unsatisfactory condition. The new station is a project under the Eighth National Development Plan, costing approximately $5.4 million to construct.

The building measures 3,538 square metres (equivalent to 37,860 square feet) in size and is said to be three times the size of the previous station. It comprises an administration block, a parking area that can accommodate up to eight fire engines, as well as an operations block for its officers and firefighters, who are on duty around the clock.

The foundation-laying for the new station was held on March 15, 2005, and the building was completed last January 30. One of its new facilities is the Casualty Clearance Centre (CCC) located at the operations block.

According to the Director of Civil Aviation Pg Hj Abd Rahman PSI Pg Hj Ismail, it can also be used as a multi-purpose hall on regular days, but in times of emergencies or accidents it could be used to house 200 victims for early treatment before transporting them to the hospital for further treatment.

Yesterday's event also saw the closing of the Basic Firefighting Course Training for Squad 08/2007-2008 and the Low-Ranking Officers Course for Squad 02/2008.

Two station trainee officers, PB Mohd Soffrey Ramlie and PB Hj Fazillah Hj Ahmad, as well as seven women firefighter trainees, ABWP 29 Dyg Mariani, ABWP 30 Dyg Anizah, ABWP 31 Dyg Rosidah, ABWP 32 Dyg Noraimi, ABWP 33 Dk Safarinawati, ABWP 34 Norkamilah and ABWP 35 Norhalifah, have completed the 12-week basic firefighting course, which began on Oct 22, 2007.

The basic firefighting course is a mandatory course that all new officers and firefighters have to attend. After completing it, station trainee officers and personnel also attended the low-ranking officers course and operational room controller basic course, which ended last March 28.

Meanwhile, three other firefighters, ABK 3 Omar, ABK 38 Pg Abd Aziz and ABK 90 Pg Bakar, were promoted to senior personnel level. The firefighters received their promotions from the minister. Prizes were also presented to the best trainees for the basic firefighting course. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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