in the force — scdf
Firefighters at the Frontline
SCDF NSmen battle blaze at Tannery Lane during their ICT It is not often that NSmen firefighters get activated to put out a massive blaze during their ICT. But this was exactly what happened to CPL (NS) Muhammad Akid and LCP (NS) Muhammad Yusman, both ORNSmen from the Immediate Response Company. Inferno at Tannery Lane At 5.14am on 24 March, the SCDF Operations Centre received multiple calls from the public on a fire at a workshop at 48 Tannery Lane. Two fire engines, two light fire attack vehicles, four supporting vehicles and one ambulance were activated.
Firefighters using the 30-metre combined platform ladder at the workshop fire in Tannery Lane.
CPL (NS) Akid and LCP (NS) Yusman arrived within four minutes in Pump Ladder PL232. Both NSmen supported the regular firefighters in putting out the raging blaze on the first and mezzanine levels of the workshop. They managed to extinguish the fire within an hour. The experience was a challenge due to the scale of the fire operation. Both NSmen were glad to put their rigorous training as firefighters during their NSF days into good use, and were pleased that they could be involved in frontline firefighting and rescue operations even as NSmen.
It took firefighters around one hour to put out the massive blaze.
Reorganised for better response Earlier this year, SCDF reorganised the ORNS Immediate Response Company into Fire Station ORNS Units to boost its operational capabilities at the fire stations. NSmen attached to the Fire Station ORNS Units will be deployed for fire and rescue operations just like their regular counterparts. The new Fire Station ORNS Units are designed to better prepare the SCDF for future peacetime emergencies, as this means better alignment to their parent fire station, better task orientation and a more deliberate allocation of ORNS manpower to the frontline. With NSmen more involved in the day-today lifesaving mission of the SCDF, this will give them a greater sense of purpose when they serve at the frontline in their call of duty.
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