THE Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) emerged as a big winner at the recent KPKT Minister’s Innovation Competition, clinching first and second prizes with a combined RM8,000 in prize money.
The department won first prize and RM5,000 for its Check Point Tracker, developed by the Bukit Mertajam Fire and Rescue Station, while the Water Curtain Adapter (Wacad), developed by the Sungai Bakap Fire and Rescue Station, took second prize and RM3,000.
At the state Fire and Rescue Department headquarters in Batu Kawan, firefighters showcased the two innovations, which were developed to enhance search-and-rescue operations and improve safety when tackling fires involving large flames.
The Check Point Tracker is an application designed to help hikers navigate trekking routes and hills. In the event a hiker goes missing, the system can alert the nearest Fire and Rescue Department team and help rescuers identify the person’s location.
The innovation was developed following statistics showing that 21 people were reported missing in forests in Penang last year, including tourists from Europe, Asia and Australia. This year, another 13 people have been reported missing.
Penang JBPM director, senior assistant commissioner Mohamad Shoki Hamzah, said the system had made search-and-rescue operations more efficient by reducing the time and resources needed to locate missing hikers.
“Using a lot of energy and resources, including helicopters, can be costly and require a large rescue team.
“Because we do not know where the victim is, this tool allows us to immediately identify the victim’s location and go straight to the point,” Mohamad Shoki said.
He also advised hikers who lose cellular connectivity while trekking to download the offline map integrated into the system. This would allow them to locate nearby designated checkpoints, which could then be used by rescuers to locate them more easily.
Meanwhile, Wacad, developed by the Sungai Bakap Fire and Rescue Station, is a special device designed to help firefighters tackle fires involving large flames by creating a protective barrier between them and the heat.
Using a standard water hose at a higher water pressure of seven, the device produces a wall, or curtain, of water to shield firefighters and members of the public from the spread of fire.
Mohamad Shoki said firefighters faced various dangerous situations in the course of their duties, making it important for the department to keep pace with technological developments and continuously explore innovative solutions.
He also stressed the importance of collaboration between the department and the state government, particularly in efforts to prevent people from becoming lost in forests and trekking areas.
“We hope the state government might also look at things like this and see what kind of assistance we can provide in collaborating with them,” Mohamad Shoki said.
Story by Ammar Mikhail Aamer
Pix by Muhammad Iqbal Hamdan