XN000022-1977-09-25 — Page 11

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1977

+ IF THE FIRE HAZARD IS UPGRADED TO THE SECOND STRIKE, WHEN REINFORCEMENT IS REQUIRED, THE HEADQUARTERS CALLS IN THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT. SOME 40 FIREMEN WILL RUSH TO THE FIRE SCENE AND AN ASSISTANT DIVISIONAL OFFICER OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE POSTED TO FIRE CONTROL HEADQUARTERS AT KOWLOON HILLS FOREST OFFICE.

+HE WILL MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH F.S.D. FIRE CONTROL TOGETHER WITH AN OFFICER FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (A.F.D.) TO FORM AN AFD/FSD' LIAISON TEAM. *

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT ONCE THEY WERE CALLED IN TO FIGHT THE FIRE, THE TACTICAL RESERVE UNIT STATIONED AT THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD RUSH TO THE VICINITY TO ASSIST AND THE F.S.D. WOULD TAKE UP THE COMMAND OF FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS AT THE FIRE SCENE.

+THE ASSISTANT DIVISIONAL OFFICER WILL SET UP HIS OWN. COMMAND UNIT AT KOWLOON HILLS FOREST OFFICE OR A STRATEGIC LOCATION TO COMMAND THE FIRE FIGHTING WHILE THE A.F.D. PERSONNEL WILL ASSIST AND ADVISE THE FIRE OPERATION, HE ADDED.

IF THE HILL FIRE HAZARD IS +EXTREME+ AND MIGHT ENDANGER LIFE OR PROPERTY, THE OPERATION WILL BE UPGRADED TO A THIRD STRIKE. HELP WILL THEN BE PROVIDED FROM SUBSEQUENT MOBILIZATION OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, 1.E. HM FORCES, THE VOLUNTEERS, RHKAAF AND C.A.S. PERSONNEL.

+SOMETIMES THE HELICOPTERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE WILL BE CALLED OUT FOR WATER BOMBING, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED. +THIS INVOLVES UNLOADING LARGE VOLUMES OF WATER OVER THE FIRE AREA.+

IN ADDITION, SOME 60 CAS MEMBERS, TOGETHER WITH CADETS, WILL BE ON FULL ALERT DURING WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN PEAK FIRE SEASON. THESE ARE USUALLY STATIONED AT PAT HEUNG FIRE SERVICES TRAINING SCHOOL AND SAI KUNG FIRE STATION. THEY WILL BE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF F.S.D. WHO WILL ON HAND TO ASSIST WHEN NECESSARY.

THE SPOKESMAN OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT STRESSED THAT PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE, SO THAT MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL IS THE CO-OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC.

HE SAID, PRACTICALLY ALL THESE FIRES WERE CAUSED BY THE CARELESSNESS OF PEOPLE - THROWING AWAY LIGHTED CIGARETTE ENDS, LIGHTING BON-FIRES OR PICNIC FIRES ON WINDY DAYS OR CLOSE TO DRY LEAVES AND GRASS, LEAVING JOSS PAPER OR STICKS BURNING UNATTENDED AT HILLSIDE GRAVES.