The one-stop solution is essentially a makeshift centre set-up by Bomba squads at the scenes of fires and accidents, where dedicated personnel, assist victims or their next of kin.
Speaking to FMT, Selangor Fire and Rescue Assistant Director (operations) Mohd Sani Harul said at the PSPI, victims can get early treatment, emotional support, as well as information on what their next course of action should be.
“Naturally, when a person has lost his or her home in a fire or gone through an accident, they will be emotionally affected by it, and may be confused or (find themselves) not in the right frame of mind to think about what to do next.”
Sani said this was why the PSPI initiative also sees the Bomba, as first respondents, coordinate aid and relief efforts with other relevant government agencies such as the police, the Welfare Department, local councils, the Immigration Department, the Road Transport Department and National Registration Department amongst others.
He added that the Bomba would also coordinate efforts with religious authorities, NGOs and elected representatives.
“We will contact all relevant agencies and parties, and if they have sufficient manpower at the time, they will send their officers to the scene.”
“So for the Bomba, we will prepare fire reports for insurance claims, while the police will take down details for a police report for lost documents, or the welfare department will arrange for food and temporary shelter.”
He said that in worst case scenarios where resources were stretched, the Bomba would help guide victims on the basic processes of the other agencies.
Alternatively, victims could also go to any Bomba station, where dedicated PSPI personnel worked 24-hours a day, seven days a week to guide victims.
Sani said that in special cases where the victims were disabled, elderly or underprivileged, or had no relatives or friends to offer them assistance, Bomba personnel would take them to the various agencies to obtain their new MyKads, passports or help in completing paperwork.
“We have also assisted victims with burials and even rebuilt homes destroyed by fires. The government will provide us the funds and we will reconstruct the house.”
This year alone, Selangor Bomba handled 92 cases under the PSPI initiative up till July, while in 2015, 145 cases were recorded.
The PSPI initiative was announced by the previous Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan and functions in 270 Bomba stations nationwide.