The Ministry of Home Affairs is looking into setting up a National Emergency Response System (NERS), utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to help the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) to carry out operations and the deployment of assets that are more systematic and guided by accurate information, Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman said.
He said this during the department’s 64th anniversary parade at the marching ground of the department’s headquarters on Saturday.
“Understanding the challenges and speculations experienced by officers and firefighters, the department needs to move forward in line with the current development, especially in carrying out duties with using technology so that the implementation of operations and the deployment of assets are systematic and guided by accurate information,” said the minister.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin also acknowledged that the department’s scope of duties and responsibilities is expanding and challenging requiring its personnel to be prepared to overcome obstacles.
In addition to fire prevention and control, he said, “The department’s duties also include saving lives and properties. Firefighters are also deployed to attend to disturbance from wild animals, fallen trees and landslides. Looking at the wide range of duties, it is certain that expertise is needed.
“It is important to understand the development of the downstream industry in the Sultanate which carries risks that should be taken into account. The fire and rescue team must prepare its assets and members in skills such as procedures to handle chemicals and evacuation.”
The minister urged the department’s management to prepare and constantly review the Competency Framework to ensure that personnel remained skilled and experienced.
The minister acknowledged that the department is in the process of updating its training programme.
He also thanked firefighters for their hard work and sacrifices in extinguishing forest and bush fires, especially during Ramadhan.
“In March, the country experienced a hot and dry season resulting in forest and bush fires.
In the first quarter of this year, the department recorded 814 calls related to such incidents, involving an area of 584 hectares as compared to last year’s 512 calls throughout the year,” said the minister.
“The hard work and sacrifice of firefighters and rescuers in dealing with the forest and bush fire incidents during Ramadhan are highly appreciated,” added the minister. – James Kon
