Firemen and volunteers check fire hydrants

SIBU: The Sibu Central Fire Department (SCFD) and Lanang Volunteer Fire Brigade (LVFB) conducted inspections of the fire hydrants today (Oct 7) at Lane 82, Lanang Road to ensure that the hydrants were in proper working condition.

Two personnel from the units found that two fire hydrants in the area had not yet been painted with the prescribed red paint coating by the department.

After inspection, they coated the two hydrants with a bright red paint.

The hydrants were located just outside the service centre of the Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat and  Lanang MP, Alice Lau Kiong Yieng.

She was also invited to help paint one of the hydrants and become a “Friend of the Fire Hydrant (FoFH).

Officials in attendance included Sarawak Fire Department Zone 4 Chief, Andy Alie and and Sibu Central Fire Station Chief, Suna Kaha and LVFB chairman, Daniel Iing Shii Ngie.

According to Iing, the Fire Department inspects and maintains hydrants in its jurisdiction at least once a year.

If conditions permitted, he said the work would be done more than once to ensure the hydrants were operational.

Firefighters must also check to find out whether the hydrant parts had been stolen, damaged or faced other issues, he said, adding problems must be reported for repairs by the department.

“Since the establishment of our Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Fire Department has handed over some maintenance tasks to us, helping to reduce the workload of firefighters while allowing the volunteers to gain experience for future missions.

“Sibu residents can also register to become FoFH, helping to look after hydrants in their community and contributing to community safety by becoming the eyes and ears of the Fire Department,” Iing added.

Lau (second right) hands over a form to apply as FoFH to Suna, witnessed by Andy (third right) and Iing (second left).