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Following is a question by Dr the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, in the Legislative Council today (July 6):
Question:
On the 21st of last month, a No. 4 alarm fire broke out at the Amoycan Industrial Centre in Ngau Tau Kok. The blaze raged for several days before it was extinguished, causing a number of fire personnel to die on duty or be injured. The fire incident has aroused concern about the adequacy of manpower of fire personnel as well as the equipment and training for them. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that when fighting fires, fire personnel need to face fast-changing situations such as being engulfed in thick smoke or hit by a flashover, whether the authorities have assessed if the training provided for fire personnel on tackling different types of fires and understanding the signs and symptoms of fire and smoke behaviours is adequate; if they have assessed and the outcome is in the negative, whether the Government will allocate additional resources in this regard; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) as it has been reported that the PBI Matrix Structural Firefighting Protective Suit (commonly known as "the gold suit") provided for fire personnel is non-breathable, rendering fire personnel more susceptible to "heat exhaustion", whether the Government will review the need for introducing protective suits using new materials as well as the adequacy of the fire resistance capability of other equipment for fire personnel; whether the Government will allocate additional resources for introducing new equipment to protect the safety of fire personnel; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) whether it has assessed if the training and equipment provided for fire personnel in respect of emergency rescue work other than firefighting work is adequate; if it has assessed and the outcome is in the affirmative, of the details; if the outcome is in the negative, whether the Government will allocate more resources in this regard; and
(4) whether it has assessed if the Fire Services Department has sufficient manpower for performing various duties, including firefighting, fire safety inspection, etc.; if it has assessed, of the outcome?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the various parts of Dr the Hon Elizabeth Quat's question is as follows:
(1) The Fire Services Department (FSD) attaches great importance to the training of fire personnel. To enhance the firefighting capability of frontline fire personnel, the FSD rolled out the "Compartment Fire Behaviour Training" (CFBT) in 2001 to introduce fire personnel to the theories related to compartment fire, as well as to equip them with the appropriate firefighting methods and operational strategies to adopt upon arrival at the scene, with due regard to the characteristics and risks of compartment fire (such as flashover and backdraught). All members of the FSD Operational Commands must receive this training. The Fire and Ambulance Services Academy (FASA), which came into operation early this year, is also equipped with simulators catered for CFBT. CFBT helps improve the response capability and psychological preparedness of fire personnel in the condition of intense heat and heavy smoke.
(2) The FSD attaches utmost importance to safeguarding the safety of its frontline personnel and is committed to providing them with the best equipment and protective clothing to ensure their safety and efficiency when they are on duties.
After thorough consultations with the staff association and the frontline personnel, the FSD has put into use the PBI Matrix Structural Firefighting Protective Suit, commonly known as the "Gold Suit", in 2011. In compliance with the requirements and manufacturer's certificate of the European Standard EN 469:2005 Performance requirements for protective clothing for firefighting, this firefighting protective suit is suitable for use in any firefighting operation involving building. The existing firefighting equipment of the FSD is comparable to the fire brigades in other advanced countries/regions in the world. According to the information provided by the supplier, fire brigades of cities with hot summers, such as Guangzhou, Kaohsiung, Melbourne, use similar firefighting protective suits.
To provide the best protection to the fire personnel working on the fire ground, the firefighting protective suit is primarily composed of three layers of materials, namely an outer shell which comprises internal flame and heat resistant fibre, a lining made of flame resistant fibre which resists external water penetration and allows internal sweat to escape, reducing the heat stress caused to the fire personnel, and an inner layer of soft flame resistant materials.
On another front, the officer-in-charge at the scene will carry out risk assessment near the fire ground and, where the condition is safe, arrange fire personnel to take rest at a designated rest area after working at the fire ground, to allow the heat accumulated inside bodies to disperse. After the fire is extinguished, fire personnel may loosen or even take off their firefighting protective suits, while tidying up firefighting hoses and tools and investigating the fire inside/outside the building. The officer-in-charge at the scene will, in the light of hot weather conditions and the temperature of the fire ground, suitably adjust the length of time allowed for fire personnel to work therein with a view to reducing their physical exertion.
(3) As regards training, to enhance operational efficiency of rescue work, the FSD provides basic competency training of various modules, including the Basic Mountain Rescue, High Angle Rescue, Road Traffic Accident and Swift Water Rescue for fire personnel who are required to go through revalidation every five years.
To enhance its capabilities in carrying out major rescue operations, the Special Rescue Squad, comprising fire and ambulance services personnel, is established under the FSD. In addition, the Urban Search and Rescue Team and High Angle Rescue Team were established under the FSD in recent years, in a bid to strengthening its capabilities in performing such special rescue operations involving high angle environment, structural collapse, landslides, and so on.
To allow fire and ambulance personnel to undergo simulated reality training under a safe setting, a number of specialised training facilities are provided in the FASA, such as rescue training tower, simulations of railway station and train tunnel, simulations of road tunnels and highways, simulation of swift-water rescue, aircraft incident training area, urban search and rescue training ground and so on, such that the fire and ambulance personnel can receive more comprehensive training on various rescue tasks.
As far as equipment is concerned, for handling different types of incidents, the FSD equips its fire personnel with adequate personal protection gear as well as operation tools of the highest rescue standards. This is to ensure that every firefighter has sufficient protection in the course of operation and that operational efficiency can be enhanced. For example, the Special Rescue Squad is provided with heavy duty cutting and break-in equipment, electronic search apparatus and powerful load-bearing systems to step up squad members' operational efficiency in hazardous rescue scene.
The FSD reviews different types of apparatus and equipment from time to time and keeps watch on the latest development of fire services equipment. On procurement and replacement of equipment, the FSD has stepped up communication with staff members to ensure that the equipment can better meet the needs of frontline personnel.
(4) As at July 1, 2016, the establishment of the FSD is 10 259 which includes fire stream, ambulance stream and civilian staff. In addition, the FSD also employs staff on non-civil service contract and through the Post-retirement Service Contract Scheme respectively. Staff members of different grades are to perform duties such as firefighting, ambulance service, training, fire prevention and so on.
Through strategic deployment of properly trained staff, equipment and appliances within various Commands, the FSD provides effective firefighting, rescue and fire prevention services to handle emergency calls and fire prevention duties efficiently. If necessary, the FSD will bid for resources under the established mechanism as and when appropriate.
Ends/Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:18
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