Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia


The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, commonly known as Bomba, is a federal agency of Malaysia responsible for firefighting and technical rescue. Bomba is a Malay word derived from the Portuguese bombeiros which means 'firefighters'.

History

Firefighting services in Malaysia started in 1883 with the establishment of the Selangor fire and rescue volunteers' headed by H.F. Bellamy with 15 active personnel. In 1946, after World War II, the Malayan Union Fire Services was formed and Flight Lt. W.J. Gerumandi was appointed as the Director of the Malayan Union Fire Services based in Kuala Lumpur.
As a result of the Federation of Malaya agreement, the responsibility firefighting services were handed over to the individual state governments. The services were then integrated as a federal-level department on 1 January 1976, reporting to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. On 15 May 1981, the department was renamed as the Malaysian Fire Services Department.
On 8 January 1997, the Malaysian Ministerial Cabinet agreed to change the coat of arms, flag and name of the Malaysian Fire Services Department to the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department. This was officially launched in a ceremony at the Genting Highlands Fire and Rescue Station in Pahang on 21 February 1997, by Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad.

Insignia

Flag

The JBPM flag is divided into 2 sections; a red triangle with the department crest and a golden yellow and blue striped triangle.

Red

Red symbolises courage that is shown by firefighters in the line of duty during fire and rescue operations.

Yellow & Blue Stripes

The 15 yellow and blue stripes represent the fifteen state-level fire and rescue departments throughout Malaysia.

Yellow

The colour yellow symbolises the department's high level of commitment to the public and stakeholders in the direction of a world-class firefighting service and also their loyalty to King and country.

Blue

The colour blue reflects the importance of water which is used as the department's main medium of extinguishing fires and emphasises the safeguarding the environment while carrying out emergency operations.

Crest

Crescent and Star

The Crescent and Star signifies Islam as the guiding principle of the department.

Firefighter helmet and crossed axes

The helmet and crossed axes symbolises the importance of safety to every firefighter serving in the department.

Paddy Flower

The semicircular grains of paddy symbolises the nine State Monarchy as well as the department's ability to carry out its duties in accordance with the Fire Services Act 1988.

Clove hitch

The Clove hitch represents the department's expertise in carrying out rescue work.

Red and Yellow

The colour red symbolises courage, while yellow symbolises the department's high level of commitment to the public and stakeholders in the direction of a world-class firefighting service and also their loyalty to King and country.

JBPM pledge

Section 5 & Fire Services Act 1988 stipulates that the duties of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department firefighter are as follows:
  1. Extinguishing, fighting, preventing and controlling fires.
  2. Protect life and property in case of fire.
  3. Determining fire exits, maintenance and regulation.
  4. Carry out investigations into the cause, origin and circumstances of a fire.
  5. Perform humanitarian services, including protection of life and property during the occurrence of any disaster.
JBPM firefighters can be called upon to perform duties beyond his/her duties under subsection, perform any other tasks entrusted to it by law or otherwise called upon by the minister to be carried out.

Organisational Structure

Federal Level

State Branch Director

Fire and Rescue Academy

There are five Fire and Rescue Academy of Malaysia campuses which includes:
  1. FRAM Central Region, Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor.
  2. FRAM Eastern Region, Wakaf Tapai, Marang, Terengganu.
  3. FRAM Northern Region, Tronoh, Perak.
  4. FRAM Sabah Region, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
  5. FRAM Sarawak Region, Kuching, Sarawak.
FRAM offers certificate and diploma level courses in fire and rescue.
FRAM has a Band Unit which is attached to FRAM Central Region.

Auxiliary Fire Service & Volunteer Firefighting Teams

On 4 May 2014, the Malaysian Government re-established the Auxiliary Fire Service in conjunction with the International Firefighters' Day celebrations at Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur. The re-establishment was officiated by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin. Historically, the Auxiliary Fire Service was first formed in 1940, After World War 2, they were absorbed into the regular fire services.
There are differences between Auxiliaries and Volunteers. Auxiliary Firefighters are formally trained at FRAM while the Volunteer Firefighters receive their training at state and district fire stations. Auxiliary Firefighters are governed by the Fire Services Act 1988 and receive an allowance from the government. Volunteer Firefighters do not receive allowances from the government but are citizen volunteers serving as part of Volunteer Firefighting Teams based at Volunteer Fire Stations paid for by their local community. They are covered through insurance paid for by the Malaysian Government. Previously registered and governed by the Registrar of Societies, Volunteer Firefighters will now be registered and governed directly by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department after Parliament passed the Fire Services Act 2018

Mountain Search And Rescue

After the 5th of June 2015 Sabah earthquake which affected Ranau and Mount Kinabalu, a specialist Mountain Search and Rescue team was formed out of the Kinabalu Mountain Guides of Sabah Parks on the 23rd of June 2015.
In a ceremony at Ranau Fire Station, 20 Kinabalu Mountain Guides were appointed as Auxiliary Firefighters and designated as the founding members of MOSAR. The ceremony was officiated by the then Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
MOSAR takes its place amongst Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department's specialist rescue units which includes the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia and the Multi Skill Team.

Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force

Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force traces their history way back since year 1883. The modern Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force was formed in 1987 and protected under Section 62 Fire and Rescue Services Act 1988. Each Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force has their own Fire Stations, Firetrucks and equipment; which usually sponsored by local industry.
The primary role of the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force is to perform Firefighting operations in their community. In case of fire emergency happen in their community, the volunteers will be first there to control if not extinguish the fire. The secondary role is to be the link between JBPM and their local community. They also entrusted by JBPM to spread awareness regarding to fire safety.
The Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force will be training regularly by district fire stations so they and their equipment in good shape for fire emergency. The volunteers can be easily identified by their yellow Firefighting Operations Dress.

Uniform

Blue Working Dress

JBPM start using 'Very Dark Corn Flower Blue' for their official duty uniform since 1997. Before that, JBPM personnel wear Khaki colour working uniform.
The blue bush jacket uniform is worn by all JBPM ranks during official duties while the tuck-in blue uniform version is worn during the parades.

Orange Camouflage Dress

This dress is devoted to carrying out special tasks, rescue operations and other operations that do not involve Firefighting. This dress can also be worn when doing the daily work at the fire station or the official parade in which its use is as instructed.

Red Beret

Both JBPM personnel and Auxiliary Firefighters are awarded with red beret with black lining behind the insignia once they finish their basic fire and rescue training at FRAM.
For Volunteer Fire and Rescue Force, it differs depending to the state. In Kedah, the volunteers wear maroon beret with red lining behind the JBPM insignia while in Penang, they wear red beret similar to the regular force but without the black lining. Firefighter Cadets wear dark navy blue beret instead.

Firefighting Operations Dress

This fire retardant dress is worn during Firefighting operations and exercise that involving with fire. This dress can also be worn during the official parade if instructed.
There are a few colour of the Firefighting operations dress. Orange is worn by regular firefighters, yellow is worn by volunteer firefighters and black is worn by JBPM Officers.

Rank

Special Operations

Pasukan Khas Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia is a term used by JBPM to its special trained firefighters.
To differentiate with regular firefighters, Special Force firefighters worn unit patch on the right shoulder and using different styles of camouflage and operations uniform.
MUST Team, Smoke Jumpers, PASKUB and STORM can be sent to overseas to help handling any disaster.

Special Forces

HAZMAT Unit Team

Formed on 29 October 1992 after Bright Sparklers Fireworks disaster incident, Hazardous Material Unit Team or commonly known as "HAZMAT" is a JBPM's Special Force trusted to handle with five types of hazard which is:
  1. Handling hazardous chemical spills.
  2. Decontaminate JBPM personnel that have been exposed to hazardous materials.
  3. Handling radioactive and radiation-emitting materials.
  4. Handling fire caused by hazardous materials.
  5. Handling Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Exposure during wartime.

    MUST Team

Multi-Skill Team is an elite airborne team of JBPM. Formed on 11 September 1998, MUST is formed by combining all special trained firefighters into one team and supported by helicopters from JBPM Air Wing.
MUST conduct and support operations such as:
All MUST members are train in helicopter-borne, emergency management in aircraft, jungle survival and sea-land navigation.
Elite JBPM Rescue Swimmer Unit is attached to MUST.

RIM

Rapid Intervention Motorcycle Team was formed in 1999 to tackle problems of late arriving rescue caused by traffic jammed in the big city. With superbikes equip with basic Firefighting and rescue equipment, RIM team can handle small scale fire and Road and Traffic Accident without having traffic problems. During bigger scale of fire, RIM team will arrive early and assess the size and type of incident, building and materials involve and victim if any. RIM team also will help control the traffic for the fire truck movement.

Water Rescue Unit

Pasukan Penyelamat Dalam Air ; also known as Water Rescue Unit role is to deal with incidents and emergencies that occur in the water. This unit consists of qualified officers and men trained at local and overseas diving training centre. All members of the JBPM Water Rescue Unit are a certified diver from the National Association of Underwater Instructors.

PASKUB

Pasukan Khas Udara Bomba is a command for elite Smokejumper with support of helicopters from JBPM Air Wing.
Smoke Jumpers Unit is an elite unit of JBPM and trained in parachute insertion, helicopter-borne operation and jungle survival. The formation of elite Smoke Jumper begins in year 2000 after JBPM send 5 firefighters to enter Basic Static Line Parachuting Course held at Royal Malaysian Air Force Sempang Air Force Base, Sungai Besi as Smoke Jumper pioneer team. The course is conducted by RMAF Special Operations Force, PASKAU until 2007 when JBPM established their own Static Ramp Air Course. Among the task of Smoke Jumper is:
Smoke Jumper enjoys good relations with Malaysian Armed Force Special Operations Forces as they always train with RMAF PASKAU, Malaysian Army Grup Gerak Khas from PULPAK and Royal Malaysian Police VAT 69 Commando.

EMRS

Emergency Medical Rescue Services Team was formed in 2006 with cooperation from the Malaysian Ministry of Health and Malaysian Association of Traumatology and Emergency Medicine. EMRS was established as a Special Force Paramedic to rescue and conduct medical care to other JBPM Special Forces members if any incident occurs to them. However, EMRS can rescue and conduct medical care to civilian if there is no other ambulance or paramedic from the Malaysian Ministry of Health or State Health Department around.
Typically, EMRS team is assigned to HAZMAT and Water Rescue unit and EMRS vehicle will go out in pairs with the other JBPM Special Forces vehicle to operations. EMRS members also usually tasked as paramedics during JBPM Special Forces and Special Operations Forces Selections.
Some EMRS members are trained in HAZMAT and Scuba diving.

K9 Unit

K9 Management Unit uses trained dogs to operate in the Search and Rescue operations and investigation. K9 Unit can be attached to the regular firefighting unit or JBPM Special Forces thus all dog handlers together with their dogs are trained for a variety of situations, including the urban and the jungle operations.

Special Force Boat Team

A support team task to support JBPM Special Forces with water transportation during operations involving of lake, river and sea. The boat crews are trained in water survival and able to perform water rescue to JBPM personnel and civilians if things go south.

Special Operations Force

STORM

Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia unit is a part of the Malaysian Rapid Deployment Force together with 10 Parachute Brigade but with different task and role. Formed in March 2011, STORM is an award-winning Search and Rescue experts and on standby for 24/7 at JBPM Airbases and State Branch Headquarters. Storm unit mainly task with SAR operations involving:
Dubbed as Komando Bomba, to be selected as STORM members, firefighters need to pass the rigorous selection course which is on par as Basic Commando Course. Eligibility requirements including Individual Physical Proficiency Test standards of physical fitness that is also used by the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force before trainee can even enter the Basic Storm Course. Once pass the Storm Survival Course, the graduate will receive a tactical knife same as used by RMAF PASKAU, STORM patch and permission to wear STORM Red Helmet and STORM Version Camouflage Dress.
Many of STORM members are drawn from Water Rescue Unit, EMRS, HAZMAT Unit and MUST.
For big operations, STORM work together with other federal SAR Special Force; Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team which under administration of the National Security Council. They are usually supported by the jungle experts, the aboriginal police unit; Senoi Praaq, Royal Malaysian Police's VAT 69 Commando and General Operations Force, Malaysian Armed Force special operations force and Malaysian Civil Defence Force.

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