Samarinda Residents Ask For Vigilance, Fire Potential Is Often High Ahead Of Ramadan

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JAKARTA - The Samarinda City Fire and Rescue Service (Damkar) reminded residents about the high potential for house fires ahead of Ramadan. This reflects from previous years.

"Throughout 2021 alone, there were 240 fire accidents with the most common months occurring during the Fasting Month or Ramadan," said Head of the Samarinda City Fire and Rescue Service Hendra AH in Samarinda, Thursday, March 31, as reported by Antara.

As many as 240 fires, he continued, the cause was 71.25 percent of electrical short circuits, the rest were caused by other things that could not be ascertained.

He said the non-fire rescue operations carried out by his party throughout 2021 were 1,538 cases.

Reflecting on the several fires in Samarinda, namely fires that tend to increase during Ramadan, the coordination between firefighters and local volunteers needs to be improved ahead of Ramadan and Eid this year.

For this reason, he appreciated the rally with Firefighters and Firefighters Volunteers held today, because even though the government is in charge through its agencies, volunteers are at the forefront of helping rescue in the event of a disaster.

Preparedness meetings like the one held, he continued, are important as a joint effort to improve coordination, especially for interested parties in dealing with natural disasters and others.

All disasters, he continued, happened so suddenly and could not be predicted, so it was necessary to have smooth communication and coordination between stakeholders, including the active role of the community through volunteers.

Through this standby meeting, it is hoped that the apparatus and community will be more alert and responsive to disasters, because disasters always come suddenly.

"Preparedness is the main thing in carrying out rescues, but all elements must continue to prioritize safety aspects by applying standard operating procedures appropriately," said Hendra.

All parties, he continued, definitely do not want natural disasters or disasters to occur, but all are also reminded not to be negligent, so they must remain alert and responsive to everything, including always being alert to the potential that can lead to disasters.

In this standby ceremony, a number of volunteers also received certificates of appreciation from the Samarinda Fire and Rescue Service, namely NGO Pawang, PWI Kaltim Peduli, FKPM Loa Buah, City RTS, Balakarcana Puspita, and Satria Loa Bakung.