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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1977
THERE ARE SEVEN SUCH LOOKOUT CABINS NESTLED ON PEAKS AT LEAST 1,200 FEET HIGH, THEY ARE LOCATED AT GOLDEN HILL, TAI MO SHAN, PAT HEUNG, LAM TEI, TIN FU TSAI, TAI PO KAU AND SHAP LONG.
EACH OF THESE LOOKOUT CABINS IS EQUIPPED WITH A FIELD TELEPHONE LINKING TO A FOREST MANAGEMENT CENTRE, A WALKIE-TALK IE RADIC TRANSCEIVER, A PAIR OF BINOCULARS AND A MAP.
FOUR EXPERIENCED MEN ARE ASSIGNED TO EACH LOOKOUT POST TO CARRY OUT FIRE SPOTTING DUTIES. THEY WORK ON TWO SHIFTS OF 24 HOURS EACH.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE WATCHERS AT THE LOOKOUT POSTS USUALLY HAD AT LEAST 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN PLANTATION PROTECTION WORK,
+THEY MUST ALSO KNOW ALL THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE PLANTATION AREAS LIKE THE BACKS OF THEIR HANDS,+ HE SAID.
WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE, HE EMPHASISED, THE FOREST WATCHERS CAN IMMEDIATELY REPORT A FIRE AND PINPOINT ITS LOCATION WITHOUT HAVING TO RELY ON A MAP. THEREFORE, SPEED AND FAMILIARITY WITH THE LOCAL TOPOGRAPHY ARE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE IN FIGHTING FOREST OR HILL FIRES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID WHEN A FIRE MAS SPOTTED, IT WAS IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO THE FOREST MANAGEMENT CENTRE WITH THE USE OF THE FIELD TELEPHONE.
ONCE THE FIELD ASSISTANT OF THE MANAGEMENT CENTRE RECEIVED THE MESSAGE, HE WOULD REPORT TO THE HEADQUARTERS FIRE CONTROL DUTY OFFICER BASED AT KOWLOON HILL FOREST OFFICE WHICH ACTS AS A FOREST FIRE CONTROL CENTRE. AND THE DUTY OFFICER THERE WILL AGAIN RELAY THE MESSAGE TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR
INFORMATION.
+THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE FIRST STRIKE OPERATION,+ HE EXPLAINED, +AT THIS POINT, THE FIELD ASSISTANT WILL LEAD A 10-MAN CREW TO THE FIRE SCENE. +
THERE ARE 16 MANAGEMENT CENTRES AT WHICH FIRE CREWS ARE BASED. ALL CREWS ARE MOBILE AND ARE EQUIPPED WITH WALKIE- TALKIES, FIRE BEATERS AND HAND-OPERATED PUMPS. THE LARGER CREWS ARE ALSÓ EQUIPPED WITH MOTOR-DRIVEN HIGH PRESSURE PUMPS AND HOSES.
THE MANAGEMENT CENTRE MUST REPORT EVERY HILL FIRE TO THE FIRE CONTROL HEADQUARTERS IN KOWLOON HILL FROM WHERE ALL FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS ARE CO-ORDINATED.
+WHEN THE FIRE FIGHTERS CANNOT COPE WITH THE BLAZE AND REQUIRE REINFORCEMENT, THE REQUEST IS OFTEN MADE TO THE LOOKOUT FROM WHERE THE MESSAGE IS PASSED ON TO THE MANAGEMENT CENTRE,+ THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.
/+IF THE
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