Brunei's Brave Firefighters Receive New Engines

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Fire Services Department has equipped its people with modern and high technology fire engines.

It is hoped to help further the department's responsibility in fire fighting activities.

The new engines were launched by Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna yesterday at the Drill Compound of the Fire Services Training Centre in Berakas.

The Permanent Secretary at the Home Affairs Ministry Dato Haji Yussof and the Director of the Fire Services Department Haji Awang Zaidi greeted Her Royal Highness's on arrival.

Her Royal Highness also inspected a guard of honour mounted by the male and female personnel of the Fire Services Department.

The setting up of the department is to control, prevent and extinguish fire as well as to provide emergency assistance and rescue services and other responsibilities relevant with emergency and accident cases.

Fire Services Department Director in his welcoming address said that the acquisition of the new fire engines would boost further the credibility of the fire fighters in the fire fighting activities especially in high-rise buildings.

Awang Haji Zaidi also mentioned that His Majesty's government has allocated a sum of $4.2 million for the purchase of the five new fire engines. He said that the new fire engines were specifically equipped to deal with chemical and other biological and radioactive spill.

Her Royal Highness also performed the 'manupong tawar' ceremony on the new vehicles. One of them is the Hazardous Material Response Vehicle known as 'Hazmat'.

The vehicle is also equipped with personnel protection, medical and rescue equipment as well as chemical containment and de-containment equipment.

The Telescopic Turntable Ladder (TTL) can be used for fire fighting while an aerial rescue ladder can reach up to a height of 53-metres.

Doa Selamat was read by the Deputy State Mufti Pehin Dato Awang Haji Suhaili to bless the occasion.

A demonstration of the Rapid Intervention Vehicle (RIV) was also held at the Drill Compound.

Her Royal Highness later attended a briefing on the infrastructure and role of the fire services. A Senior Officer of the Fire Services Department, Awang Shabandi, delivered the briefing.

Her Royal Highness also toured an exhibition displaying portals on the achievement of the department since its formation.

Before leaving, Her Royal Highness signed the visitor's book and received a souvenir from the Fire Services Department.

The department was formed in the 1920. It was placed under the administration of the Royal Brunei Police Force with the strength of only 25 people.

The Fire Services Department today has 1,083 fire personnel nationwide.

Brudirect.com