JOHOR BARU: Firemen nationwide have been kept busy during the Hari Raya season, attending to an average of 290 calls per day about fires and other emergencies.

       Since its Hari Raya operation started on April 29, Fire and Rescue Department assistant director-general (operations) Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad (pic) said the department has had to handle a total of 1,448 cases nationwide.

       “So far, we have carried out 852 rescue operations and attended to 462 fires during the first five days. We also attended to 92 road accidents,” he said.

       Unfortunately, there were 27 deaths during this period, including 13 road fatalities.

       He explained that the number of fatalities could differ from police statistics as the Fire and Rescue Department might not be called to assist each time.

       In the last five days, it had rescued at least 139 people in fire-related cases, road accidents and other operations nationwide.

       On Monday, the first day of Hari Raya, department personnel attended to 268 cases, including 154 rescue operations, 97 fires and 14 accidents.

       Most of these happened in the Klang Valley and Johor.

       The department will continue with the special operations for about two weeks, including carrying out patrols at 14 locations along the North-South Expressway and also the East Coast Highway.

       “These locations that we have identified are mainly at least 30 minutes away from the nearest fire station,” said Nor Hisham.

       He reminds Malaysians to always switch off their appliances which are not in use before leaving their homes.

       For instance, he said battery chargers or decorative lights left switched on throughout the night could cause a fire.

       “Many of these electrical products are not of good quality or properly certified and can easily heat up and catch fire if they are left switched on for a long period of time,” he said.

       On manpower, the department only allowed 20% of its workforce of 14,000 to take leave during this holiday period.

       “We are mobilising more than 11,200 personnel nationwide,” he said.

       Nor Hisham also advised those having picnics near lakes, beaches and ponds to be cautious.

       He cited the case of a man, who was in his 20s, who died while swimming at the Semenyih dam on Monday.

       “The body was found about 150m from where he was swimming,” he said.

       The department is also carrying out foot patrols at 20 popular beaches in the country.