Fire brigade copes with fewer blazes, more emergency calls

The Fire Services Bureau has been called fewer times to fight fires in the first nine months of the year, compared to the equivalent period last year. However, the fire brigade has seen more incidents overall this year than last year.
The 780 blazes recorded from the start of the year until September indicates an approximate 13-percent drop from the same timeframe last year, with most attributed to negligence in turning off stoves and short circuits.
The data released on Wednesday also shows that the number of rescue works conducted by firemen has gone up by around 8.3 percent from 937 last year to 1,015 this year, while the deployment of ambulances also increased by 6.98 percent.
The authorities intensified their anti-fire patrols citywide, rising by 5.19 percent to a total of 3564 rounds. They commended residents for being cooperative in reducing incidents, claiming that anti-fire awareness has risen significantly.
The Fire Services Bureau has also dispatched personnel to visit the oil depot located near Ka-­Ho Village and the temporary fuel storage facility in Ilha Verde 380 times since the start of the year, with both facilities recognized as being up to par in terms of safety.