XN000022-1979-01-31 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1979

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AIRBORNE FIREFIGHTERS

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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS TRAINING ITS PERSONNEL TO BECOME +AIRBORNE FIREFIGHTERS.+

BEING AIRLIFTED TO A FIRE SCENE, IN A ROYAL AIR FORCE OR AUXILIARY AIR FORCE HELICOPTERS, WILL GREATLY SHORTEN THE TIME IT TAKES TO ARRIVE AT DIFFICULT TERRAIN SO THAT ANY FIRE CAN BE QUICKLY STOPPED FROM SPREADING.

+THIS WILL DEFINITELY HELP REDUCE DAMAGE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE, + SAID MR. SING-LAI CHONG, COUNTRY PARKS PROTECTION OFFICER.

THE HELICOPTERS, APART FROM SHUTTLING FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT TO A FIRE SCENE, WILL ALSO RUN +WATER BOMBING+ MISSIONS.

+TO GET THE FULLEST BENEFITS, SPECIAL TRAINING SESSIONS HAVE BEEN ORGANISED TO PREPARE OUR FIRE CREWS FOR THE AIRBORNE OPERATIONS, MR. CHONG SAID.

TRAINING INCLUDES SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN GETTING ON OR ALIGHTING FROM A HELICOPTER, THE MOST SPEEDY AND BEST WAY TO GET THE FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AND RADIO COMMUNICATION.

THERE ARE NOW TWO 10-MAN FIRE CREWS BASED AT EACH OF THE 10 CENTRES IN THE PLANTATION AND MANAGEMENT AREAS. THEY WILL BE CALLED OUT IMMEDIATELY BY THE KOWLOON HILLS FIRE CONTROL CENTRE WHEN THERE IS AN OUTBREAK OF FIRE.

THE CENTRE HAS REPORTS OF ALL OUTBREAKS OF HILL FIRES RELAYED TO IT BY FIELD TELEPHONE FROM FIRE WATCHERS AT FIRE LOOKOUTS.

MR. CHONG SAID THE FIRE LOOKOUTS ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED USUALLY ON HILLTOPS OVERLOOKING A LARGE AREA.

THERE ARE NOW 10 FIRE LOOKOUTS BUT THE NUMBER WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE AS MORE AND MORE COUNTRY PARKS ARE DESIGNATED.

SHOULD THE FIRE CREWS FIND OUT AT THE SCENE THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO COPE WITH THEIR FIRE BEATERS AND HAND-OPERATED PUMPS, THEY COULD USE THE IR WALKIE-TALKIES TO CONTACT THE CONTROL CENTRE AND ASK FOR REINFORCEMENT.

AT THIS STAGE, MR. CHONG EXPLAINED, THE CONTROL CENTRE WILL CALL IN FIRE SERVICES PERSONNEL AND EVEN DEPLOY A HELICOPTER FROM SEK KONG TO CARRY OUT THE WATER BOMBINGS.

, THE HELICOPTER.....