Firefighters stand by in festive spirit
By Hjh Saemah Zulkefli

Personnel from the Fire Services Department line up for the National Anthem

The National Day celebrations aim too boost up patriotism and the sense of nationalism among the citizens. Having to be on duty all throughout the festivities however does not seem to restrain some 80 personnel of the Fire Services Department from missing out on the spirit of nationalism and patriotism. Whilst having to be on guard to control bush fires in several sites in the Belait District, and being involved in an operation to control and to extinguish fires at the Embun Satu Camp, an on-site camp along Jalan Seria Bypass, the group managed to hold a mini celebration of their own Sunday morning.

Joining the celebration was the Commanding Officer 'B' Command, Awang Salleh Nayan who headed the operation since it began early this month.

Among the programmes lined up, the National Anthem, reading of the National Pledge and a speech by Awang Salleh.

Among other things, he called on the personnel to continuously be responsible to their duties. He also hoped that the mini celebration would help boost the spirit of nationalism and patriotism among them.

Such celebration was the first of its kind as the personnel were on around-the-clock duty as the dry season brings with it bush fires around the Belait District.

Under normal circumstances, the Kuala Belait Fire Services Department had never failed to send representatives to join the rest of the nation in the National Day in Bandar Seri Begawan.

A spokesperson of the department also told the Bulletin that the bushfire occurrences had decreased following the change of weather in the Sultanate. However, operations to curb the bushfires are still ongoing.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin