Quest to train urban folk as first responders in fire

It is crucial that the community in George Town’s heritage enclave know how to react should a fire break out to minimise loss of life and property damage.

Narrow roads originally meant for bullock carts and pre-war houses with wooden rafters, beams and floorboards mean not only fire engines have a tough time getting to the blaze but conflagrations may flare up quickly along the tightly packed rows of heritage buildings.

The unique architectural features within the enclave contribute to the area’s distinct charm and historical significance, as these details evoke a sense of nostalgia.

Narrow roads and pre-war houses are common in the George Town heritage enclave.

However, these fascinating details also present its fair share of challenges, particularly in terms of fire safety.

Fire hazards can arise because of the close proximity of buildings, ageing infrastructure and limited accessibility for fire trucks and personnel.

Moreover, the presence of haphazardly parked vehicles, stalls and other obstacles on these roads present additional challenges for first responders.

To ensure stakeholders stay on their toes, the city’s heritage custodian – George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) – started a community-based fire responders training programme in 2019.

Two phases of the programme were completed before it was halted because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, the programme makes a return.

Ng with some of the disaster risk management posters created to raise awareness.

GTWHI Cultural Heritage Research and Development Department manager Ng Boon Nee said the programme was meant to empower and equip residents, owners of premises, tenants and business operators with essential fire safety knowledge and equipment.

“During the initial programme in 2019, we carried out two phases of training,” she said.

“Each phase saw 50 participants being taught to the use of crucial fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors.

“We also have comprehensive capacity-building sessions conducted by the Fire and Rescue Department, specifically the Beach Street Fire Station, which is in the George Town World Heritage Zone.

“The programme is also meant to enhance the communities’ resilience during fire emergencies and raise awareness among the public on pragmatic steps to protect cultural heritage from disasters.”

Most of the residents at Chew Jetty have a fire extinguisher at home.

Training programme

Ng said the upcoming training programme would be held on April 27, with each of the 50 participants being provided with fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and capacity-building exercises to improve their skills and ability to respond effectively to fire emergencies.

“The participants will learn how to prevent and respond to a fire,” she said.

“The training aims to raise awareness of fire safety among the community, especially those living in the heritage enclave.

“Among the crucial factors underpinning effective fire response and readiness are heightened awareness and education.”

Ng said GTWHI has developed a series of disaster risk management posters focusing on fire hazard reduction, preventive measures, proper response procedures and post-disaster protocols.

Equipment such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and sprinkler systems, she said, were vital for swift and efficient responses to fires.

“Beyond mere provision, engaging the community in fire safety initiatives plays a pivotal role in fostering a culture of preparedness and promoting responsible behaviour towards fire prevention and response.

Narrow roads and pre-war houses are common in the George Town heritage enclave.

“Given the unique challenges posed by the heritage enclave, stakeholders must be aware of additional fire risk factors,” she said.

The predominant use of timber in heritage buildings, said Ng, underscored the need for heightened vigilance, as fires could escalate rapidly within minutes, especially during cooking activities.

“To address these challenges effectively, tailored training is indispensable.

“Participants need to be trained and equipped with basic knowledge on responding to a fire by using the appropriate equipment as well as engaging in drills to understand their roles and responsibilities during fire emergencies.

“Such training not only improves response time, but also enhances coordination among community members, ultimately bolstering the overall resilience of the heritage site against fire hazards,” she said.

On further training in the future, she said GTWHI would focus on installing an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the heritage enclave.

An AED is a battery-operated device that delivers an electric shock to a person’s heart to restore a normal, rhythmic heartbeat if required in an emergency.

Obstacles such as motorcycles and hawker carts present difficulties for first responders to get to a fire if one occurs at China Street.

Unesco recognition

Together with Melaka, George Town in Penang was recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008 based on the outstanding universal value of cultural diversity embedded in its living and built heritage.

George Town Unesco World Heritage Site covers a core area of 109.38ha and a buffer zone of 150.04ha, which involves 5,013 historic heritage sites, including shophouses, which are home to long-time residents and places of worship that still function as they did hundreds of years ago.

There are about 37 places of worship, mainly mosques, Chinese and Indian temples as well as churches within the core and buffer zones of the city.

Fire prevention lesson

Beach Street Fire Station chief Mahadzir Magribi said the fire station would be directly involved in the programme.

“Our role will be more on how to prevent fire and how stakeholders can respond to fire incidents before help arrives,” he said.

He said participants would learn how to use basic equipment to put out a fire in the training session.

“The focus will be more on awareness and teaching them the dos and don’ts in fire prevention as well as a demonstration from firefighters,” said Mahadzir.

Beach Street Fire Station officers preparing fire extinguishers for the community-based fire responders training programme.

He said there would be a 10- to 20-minute theory class before they are taught to use a fire extinguisher.

“There are steps they must learn to be able to operate it effectively in case of a fire, such as how to remove the pin in order to use it.”

“There is a small pin that prevents the fire extinguisher from accidentally being discharged,” he said, adding that real fire would be used in the demonstration.

Mahadzir said participants would be also allowed to take part in full garb and be guided during the hands-on experience if they were up for it.

“It is quite simple if they are looking at putting out a small fire. Once you have learnt to use a fire extinguisher, it is quite easy.

“There needs to be self-confidence and knowledge of how it functions.” he said, adding that while many were brave, they did not know how to handle specific equipment.

“You need to angle it a certain way and when you aim it at the fire, you need to see the flow of the wind.

“We will be comprehensive during the programme and teach the essentials as we want to prepare them for any eventuality.

“It is really important to be able to know how to use it in any circumstance as you could stop a fire from spreading and save lives,” said Mahadzir.