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The Fire Services Department (FSD) will thoroughly study the judgement and recommendations of the Coroner's hearing for the No.5 Alarm fire at Cornwall Court, a FSD spokesman said today (November 2).
The spokesman said that FSD had attached great importance to the rescue and fire fighting abilities of firefighters as well as their occupational safety. The department has been making every endeavour to upgrade the accoutrements and ancillary equipment for firefighters, including breathing apparatus (BA), radio communications system, and personal protective equipment, so as to achieve higher operational efficiency and protection.
The new BA system, which meets the latest international safety standards, was put into commission in April this year in FSD. The capacity of the existing air cylinder is 6.7 litre, which is similar to those commonly used worldwide. Though larger cylinders have higher air capacity, the volume and weight will increase correspondingly. As a result, it will be more strenuous for firefighters to carry them and thus the air consumption will increase as well.
The department has conducted a trial on using a 9-litre air cylinder between July and October this year. However, the practical wearing was found unsatisfactory. Further trials with cylinders of different capacities will be continued by frontline firefighters.
The spokesman explained that air consumption rate of BA cylinder depends on a number of factors such as firefighters' working experience and physical conditions, work being conducted, and conditions at the scene of emergency, etc. In tackling fire at multi-storey building, firemen may not necessarily need to proceed to the fire ground at high level from the ground floor. They may proceed to a level close to the fire scene by using firemen's lift or use the refuge floor at higher levels as the bridgehead.
The spokesman added that there were physical constraints on radio communications in building fires, such as the presence of floor slabs, partition walls, smoke, heat and humid conditions resulting from fires. These factors will weaken the transmission of radio signal.
The spokesman said when more and more firemen were engaged in radio communications, it would result in the channel being occupied too long which would seriously affect the effectiveness of radio communications. He said the department had enhanced the training on radio communications for frontline personnel and had reminded them to adhere strictly to radio discipline.
The FSD has planned to put the new digital communications system into commission in July next year. Radio transmission signal will be enhanced through the use of repeaters installed on fire engines or the use of portable repeaters. On the other hand, when a channel of the digital radio system is in use, jamming in by other users is not possible. Interruption of radio communications by congestion of radio traffic can therefore be avoided. These measures will greatly enhance communications.
Besides, the new handheld radio sets will be provided with an "emergency button". Firemen at scene who require urgent assistance but are not able to communicate through the radio for whatever reasons can activate the "emergency button" immediately to seek help from other colleagues on the same radio channel.
The spokesman said FSD had also purchased fire tunics with higher protective capability. They will be delivered to Hong Kong in batches in the next few months for use by frontline firefighters.
The spokesman also expressed deepest condolences to family members of the deceased and sympathies to those injured in the fire.
Ends/Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Issued at HKT 23:07
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