THE Fire and Rescue Department yesterday ended its funfair and charity bazaar held at the Old Airport, Berakas in observance of its 50th anniversary with a blaze of activities that were entertaining for children and a test of courage for the adults.
The last day of the five-day fair was topped by a walkathon with 300 people participating.
Leading the walkathon was Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof.
Before the walkathon began, a seven-minute warm-up exercise was conducted by a group of Fire and Rescue officers in charge of guiding the participants.
The walkathon started with the Home Affairs Minister sounding off the horn of one of the Fire and Rescue motorcyles.
The walkathoners were divided into two groups. The men walked a distance of 3.5km from the Fire and Rescue Department main office through a stretch of roads along Jalan Jabatan Kerja Raya and passed the Telbru building before making their way back to the starting point.
Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Dato Hj Adanan (2nd L) leading the walkathon for the Fire and Rescue personnel during the department's walkathon and last day of the fun fair and charity bazaar at the Old Airport, Berakas. Picture: BT/Yusri Adanan
The women walked a distance of 3km through Jalan Lapangan Terbang Lama Berakas, the Post Office, the Language and Literature Bureau, Telbru and back.
Soon after the walkathon, the guest of honour was taken for a close look around the stalls, which were selling various local delicacies and clothing items operated by officers and staff at the department and other outside vendors, as well as food franchise operators.
The profits earned from the stalls will be given to a charity of the department’s choosing.
The minister also spent time to witness some demonstrations prepared by the personnel of the Fire and Rescue Department at the field and track of the department’s headquarters.
The public were also welcomed to try the exhilarating but educational “rides” at the fair, such as the escape chute, flying fox, smoke house, fire vehicle ride, turntable ladder ride and life air pack jump.
Most of those who tried these “rides” were adults who wanted to get a hands-on experience to some of firefighters’ extreme tasks.
Other activities included games and quizzes such as the hose drill and the “donning the fire jacket” race.
Children for ages 12 and below also got a chance to express their creative side by taking part in a colouring contest.
The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Dewa Pahlawan Dato Paduka Hj Dani Hj Ibrahim, deputy secretaries and permanent secretaries at the Ministry of Home Affairs, heads of departments, officers and staff of the National Disaster Management Centre and their families.
The Fire and Rescue Department has more than 1,400 personnel and 17 fire stations strategically located around the country. The department’s operations cover both land and water.
The roles and responsibilities of the department are not limited to putting out fires but also include rescue, conducting fire investigations as well as raising awareness among the community on fire safety and disaster management.
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