Everybody needs to understand that all activities of fire brigade members are public interests as well as a national cause, said Vice-Senior General Soe Win.
Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win delivered an address at the ceremony to mark the 78th Anniversary of Myanmar Fire Brigade Day at MICC-II in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
Myanmar Fire Brigade must be formed in line with Men, Equipment and Technological Powers to overcome challenges of natural disasters, keep abreast of international fire brigades and reform form and essence of the brigade in the future, said Vice-Senior General Soe Win.
In his speech, the Vice-Senior General stressed the Fire Brigade needs to implement four objectives: fire prevention, disaster prevention, search and rescue and public welfare measures under the proper management, implementation and reviewing strategies.
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He continued that firefighters have to study modern fire extinguishing and rescue technologies and form the urban search and rescue teams in relevant regions for conducting the advanced search and rescue technologies in relevant regions.
He urged people to cooperate with fire brigade members in preventing danger of fire with awareness and knowledge as the Department of Fire Services performs live broadcasting of its activities on the departmental website and update news.
The Vice-Senior General explained that fire broke out in Myanmar some 18,000 times from 2014 to 2023, losing more than K187 billion worth of property, adding some 1,800 times of fire break out in the country on a yearly basis with more than K18 billion worth of property.
He outlined that outbreaks of fire are based on climate change, increasing number of population and development of industrial development. As such, he continued that it is necessary to raise public awareness for prevention of fire to reduce loss of property and damage yearly.
The Vice-Senior General recounted that in the terrible incident of cyclonic storm Mocha which hit the country on 14 May 2023, Tatmadaw led Tatmadaw members, police members, departmental personnel and volunteers to evacuate storm victims in time to reduce loss and waste of property.
He recounted that a total of 549 search and rescue members from Nay Pyi Taw, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Mon, Yangon, Shan and Ayeyawady regions and states were inmediately sent to storm-hit areas for performing rescue, relief and rehabilitation tasks.
In conclusion, the Vice-Senior General urged firefighters to constantly study modern firefighting technologies to enhance their qualification and capacity and perform fire prevention and rescue and relief measures for the people with sacrifice of life and limbs.
The Vice-Senior General pressed the button to launch the 78th Anniversary of Myanmar Fire Brigade Day ceremony.
The Vice-Senior General presented cash awards and trophies to veteran singer U Tun Shwe, deputy commanding officer over 90 years old U Chit Hlaing of Dagon Myothit (South) Township auxiliary fire brigade and Fire Sergeant (Retd) U Tun Kyi and officials from three auxiliary fire brigade camps.
SAC member Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Yar Pyae presented a gift to the Vice-Senior General and prizes and cash awards to outstanding service personnel of Myanmar Fire Brigade.
The Vice-Senior General and party viewed modern fire extinguishers and search and rescue equipment displayed at the hall and fire engines outside the hall.
In the evening, the Vice-Senior General attended the dinner in hour of the 78th Anniversary of Myanmar Fire Brigade Day.
At the dinner, Union ministers and the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman presented K5 million, the Union Minister for Information 20 sets of MRTV DTH receivers and 100 sets of DVB T2 set top boxes and the Union Minister for Border Affairs 100 sets of solar watt 50 generators.
The ceremony was also attended by SAC member General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and other SAC members, Union ministers, the union-level dignitaries and officials. — MNA/TTA
