JOHOR BARU: There is a strong possibility that no fire drills have been conducted at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) since last year.
It is also possible that the hospital does not have any emergency response teams dedicated to firefighting.
These were the possibilities raised by Johor Baru Fire and Rescue Department chief Ibrahim Omar today, following questions posed after the deadly blaze at the hospital on Tuesday, which claimed six lives.
“There is a possibility there was no fire drill last year," said Ibrahim when asked whether any fire drills had been done at the HSA in recent years.
He also believed that the situation could have been handled better had there been an emergency response team dedicated to firefighting at the HSA.
“The outcome could have been different,” he said.
Asked whether the HSA or its intensive care unit (ICU) has up-to-date fire safety certificates (FC), Ibrahim said he could not answer that as it was under the purview of the Department for Issuance of Certificate of Fitness.
The FC expires annually.
A Malay daily today reported that HSA's ICU did not have a renewed FC status.
“One month before the FC’s expiry date, the Fire Department should be called in to inspect the premises. Failing to do so could lead to an investigation under Section 341 of the Fire Service Act 1988,” said Ibrahim.
Ibrahim also did not deny that a short circuit had occurred in one of the plugs in the ICU on Oct 15.
“The fire was put out before we arrived. It was a just a spark,” he said.
Ibrahim said that a fire engine with six firemen are currently stationed at the HSA.
“Until we receive orders to stand down, we will not leave the premises," he said, commenting on a short circuit scare yesterday, just a day after the deadly blaze.
Ibrahim said the ICU has been shut down. The fire department will only hand over the operations of the ICU ward to the hospital management once it is satisfied with its safety conditions.