ENG-2008 — Page 394

322 Public Order

Fire Services

The Fire Services Department fights fires, protects life and property in the event of fires and other calamities. It also provides emergency ambulance services, and gives fire protection advice to the public.

The department has 8 792 uniformed and 630 civilian members and is one of the world's finest fire brigades with

with well-trained personnel, advanced communications systems, and modern equipment and appliances.

The department responded to 35 513 fire calls, 24 398 special service calls and 643 611 ambulance calls in 2008.

Fire-fighting and Rescue

Of the 35 513 fire calls received in 2008, 18 were classified as major fires of No. 3 alarm and above. Careless handling or disposal of lighted materials was the major cause of fires in 2008, causing a total of 2 326 fires, accidents occurring. during the preparation of foodstuffs caused 1 863 fires, while electrical faults caused 795 fires. False alarms, triggered mainly by faulty automatic alarm systems, contributed to about 68 per cent of the total number of fire calls.

The department also provides a wide range of rescue services for incidents such as traffic accidents, shipwrecks, people trapped in lifts or locked in rooms, gas leaks, house collapse, flooding, landslides, industrial accidents and attempts by people to jump from heights. The department handled 24 398 such special service calls in 2008.

Ambulance Services

The Ambulance Command handled 643 611 calls during the year, or an average 1 763 calls per day.

The department's ambulance fleet is fully equipped and manned at paramedic level with services meeting international standards. Automated defibrillators and selected drugs for illnesses are available on all emergency ambulances and emergency medical assistant motorcycles.

The department continues to train front-line firemen to become first responders to provide basic life-saving support to casualties and patients while ambulance crews make their way to the scene. During the year, first responders dealt with 40 719 cases in which people needed urgent help.

Communications

The Fire Services Communications Centre, manned round the clock, is responsible for mobilising all fire-fighting and ambulance resources to provide timely fire and ambulance services to the community. The centre is also responsible for receiving complaints about fire hazards and dangerous goods. It acts as an emergency co-ordinator for other Government departments and public utilities during large-scale emergencies or major calamities.