Fire services see surge in calls

The Fire Services Bureau’s (CB) firefighting operations rose 7.42% from January to September compared to the same period last year, statistics show.

The CB responded to 680 firefighting operations from January to September, a 7.42% increase compared to the same period last year.

Most of these incidents, 554 cases or 81.47%, were extinguished without using hoses.

The leading causes of fires were stoves left unattended, electrical short-circuits, burning incense or candles, and flames not fully extinguished. These types of fires accounted for 452 cases or 66.47% of the total.

Simultaneously, the bureau recorded a surge in ambulance deployment, which rose by 2,131 to 34,124 cases.

This increase was primarily driven by a rise in minor health complaints, such as dizziness, headaches, and mild indispositions.

The most common issues addressed by emergency medical services included dizziness, abdominal discomfort, fever, and bruises, comprising 53.71% of all ambulance callouts.

The CB has conducted 12,236 inspections in 5,156 buildings, involving 54,598 residents.

By September, where warnings had gone unheeded or where situations had been deemed serious, 32 administrative sanction procedures had been implemented.

Since the promulgation of a new fire prevention law about three years ago, 66 cases have been finalized, mainly involving objects left in escape routes or motorcycles parked in no-parking areas. Nine other sanction procedures were also opened. VC