There's No Man At The Fire Station
By Shafiyi Azahari

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei's first all-female fire station in Berakas will be launched tomorrow, and it may also be the first in Southeast Asia, according to a Fire Department official.

The group will be housed at the-Berakas Fire Station at the Old Airport and more of such all female fire stations may be established in other districts of the sultanate, Fire and Rescue Superintendent Ranee Othman, commanding officer for `C' operations, told The Brunei Times yesterday.

The all-women group has 34 fire fighters, who were previously assigned to various posts, such as administration, logistics and command and control.

There are a total of 128 female fire fighters in the country and they are stationed at different divisions in the Fire and Rescue Department such as Public Relations Unit, Vehicles, Mechanical and Technical Division and as instructors at the training centre.

"Since the unit was formed (in January last year), the female fire fighters have been involved first-hand in handling emergencies of various kinds," Ranee said.

"As an example, those who are stationed at the Fire Prevention Division have the duty to review the safety elements of a building while its investigative unit are responsible to investigate causes of fires," he said.

The all-female fire station will have three teams comprising 11 members each with one officer as its station commander.

Female fire fighters in times of vehicle accidents, for example, will safely secure the female victims instead of the male fire fighters in line with the Melayu Islam Beraja philosophy, he said.

They are not, however, barred from saving male victim she was quick to point out.

They can also fight fires and also serve as a support team in various types of emergencies, Ranee added.

The department plans to make the women fire fighters attend a paramedic’s course.

The unit also currently has four vehicles at its disposal, a Light Fire Attack Vehicle, a Forward Command Control van, a Mobile Flood Light vehicle and a support multi-purpose vehicle.

All the vehicles will be operated by the female fire fighters themselves.

Domestic training courses are also held at the Fire and Rescue Training Centre, basic fire fighting courses and also at the Penanjong Garrison of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces in Tutong District.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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