Fire volunteers to train to fight fires<\/p>\n
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Central Jakarta Fire Department has held a five-day training
\ncourse for 50 fire volunteers from subdistricts in the mayoralty.<\/p>\n
The head of the department, Idrus Paddai, told The Jakarta
\nPost on Wednesday the training course was part of an annual
\nprogram to encourage citizens to get more involved in protecting
\ntheir neighborhoods from fire.<\/p>\n
\"It is impossible to rely solely on firefighters,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that because firefighters sometimes had difficulty
\nreaching fires in crowded neighborhoods, it was important that
\nresidents had the skills to help fight blazes.<\/p>\n
The 50 volunteers form the first of seven batches of
\nvolunteers who will be trained this year. Idrus said he hoped
\nthese 350 new volunteers would in turn pass on their knowledge to
\nat least 30 other residents in their neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
\"If residents have the proper knowledge of fires and how
\nfirefighters work, they will really help us in fighting fires,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said residents' lack of knowledge about fires often
\nresulted in hostility toward firefighters. Recently, residents
\nattacked firefighters and damaged their equipment when they were
\nfighting a blaze in Karet Tengsin, Central Jakarta. One fireman
\nsuffered a head injury and a truck and motorcycle were damaged.<\/p>\n
\"They were emotional and they just did not understand how we
\nwork,\" Idrus said.<\/p>\n
He said that if more people had the proper knowledge,
\nresidents would let firefighters do their job and assist them by
\nperforming tasks such as securing the area from looters, clearing
\nthe streets for fire trucks and leading the firemen to water
\nsources.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fire-volunteers-to-train-to-fight-fires-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}