Fire department to answer 50% of distress calls in less than 10 minutes

The  Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) aims to respond to 50% of distress calls received in less than 10 minutes by the year 2020. Its director-general Datuk Mohd Nor Ibrahim said last year alone, the department received 80,183 emergency calls with an average of 220 calls a day, 10 calls per hour and one call every six minutes. "Out of the emergency calls received, 45% achieved 'response time' of less than 10 minutes for fire engines to reach the scene," he told reporters after presenting excellent service awards to 73 recipients from the Pahang Fire and Rescue Department, as well as 30-years service certificates to 10 members. In the meantime, he said, the value of property destroyed in fires increased by 57% from RM2.4 billion in 2014 to RM4.4 billion last year. The number of deaths caused by fires also increased from 135 (2014) to 153 (2015), he said. – Bernama, February 19, 2016.]]>