Jakarta Firefighters Urged to Prioritise Personal Safety During Operations

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency (Gulkarmat), Bayu Meghantara, has asked personnel to pay attention to and maintain their own safety while carrying out firefighting duties.

“I do not want the safety of lives, especially for our members, to be neglected because of chasing time. Not only time, but maintaining safety is the most important thing. The safety of those being rescued and the safety of our members,” he said during the opening of the Jakarta Fire Fighter Challenge 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to him, the safety of firefighting personnel should be a primary assessment criterion for the judges, in addition to technique, timing accuracy, and proper equipment placement.

“The technique is not only a matter of time, but how equipment and vehicles are mobilised, and how personnel are mobilised. This is also a challenge for us,” Bayu said.

This year’s event is being held at the Gulkarmat Training Centre in Ciracas, East Jakarta on 11-12 August 2026, featuring categories that test the physical fitness and tactics of officers.

“The Jakarta Fire Fighter Challenge is a routine activity that we hold every year. As it develops, agility, speed, and accuracy will improve,” Bayu said.

Bayu confirmed that the winners of this event will become part of the Jakarta Gulkarmat contingent scheduled to compete in Singapore in 2027.

“This year’s winners must maintain their endurance and physical fitness in order to compete at the international level,” he said.