The morning of April 1 will not be easily forgotten by the residents of Putra Heights.
What began as a quiet Tuesday was suddenly shattered by a massive explosion that resembled the force of an atomic bomb.
The raging inferno from a gas pipeline fire not only shocked the community but also served as a grim reminder of how vulnerable we are when it comes to industrial and infrastructural hazards.
It was an incident that caught many by surprise, underscoring the dire consequences of ignorance and the lack of awareness surrounding the risks that may exist right under our noses.
This tragedy should act as a wake-up call for all communities, especially here in Sarawak.
It is time to seriously evaluate our preparedness and role in safeguarding our neighbourhoods.
Authorities must regularly review and update risk assessments for high-hazard processes and storage facilities near residential areas.
At the same time, there must be active engagement between the authorities and local communities to share relevant safety information.
By understanding the risks and knowing how to respond, every individual can play a part in reducing the impact of such incidents.
Information on performance-based analysis, qualitative and quantitative risk assessments, and hazard mitigation strategies should not be limited to technical experts alone.
These concepts need to be simplified and made accessible to the public so that a basic understanding can be achieved across all levels.
Similarly, international safety standards and codes of practice used for approvals must be understood and respected by all approving authorities.
One principle must always guide us: never let profit take precedence over safety.
Safety should come first, second, and third — only then can profit be considered.
When I reviewed reference documents relating to gas pipeline safety standards, whether for raw gas or processed LPG and natural gas, the level of compliance required was extremely stringent.
It is nearly impossible for such systems to leak unless they are disturbed. Documents such as the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) Report 434-2010, NFPA 56, and NFPA 59A clearly outline safety protocols for fire and explosion prevention.
If all safety procedures are followed and proper warning signage is installed, the likelihood of failure remains minimal.
As members of our communities, we must ask ourselves: are we prepared for emergencies that could threaten lives, property, the environment, and our economic continuity?
The ancient Roman general Flavius Vegetius Renatus once said, “Si vis pacem, para bellum” — if you want peace, prepare for war.
This phrase, though centuries old, is still true.
We must be prepared to face the unexpected and overcome fear with knowledge, skill, and resolve.
Most disasters begin as minor incidents.
Ignorance often acts as the spark that causes these incidents to escalate into major crises, disasters, and eventually catastrophes.
The first five minutes after any emergency are critical. How people react and respond during this brief window determines the extent of damage and how quickly normalcy can be restored.
The actions taken in these early moments are crucial to containing the situation.
From a total fire safety perspective, we must approach the issue from legal and engineering angles.
Legally, we must consider building codes and standards, fire safety regulations, insurance and financial protection, liabilities, and emergency response plans.
From an engineering standpoint, we focus on prevention design, detection and alarm systems, suppression systems, evacuation strategies, and fire safety design philosophies.
These must be supported by thorough testing, inspection, maintenance, and coordination with relevant authorities.
Other critical elements include structural integrity, fire separation, adequate clearance boundaries, early warning detection systems, specialized suppression systems, fire modelling, and comprehensive risk assessments.
For LPG pipelines, testing and risk assessments must also evaluate the effects of heat radiation and overpressure on surrounding populations, based on kilowatts per square meter (kW/m²) for heat and kilopascals (kPa) for pressure.
However, these safety measures alone do not directly estimate the distance of potential explosions.
For that, other standards and risk analyses are used, including calculations based on the Potential Impact Radius (PIR) and environmental factors.
NFPA 59A is one of the most comprehensive standards available, detailing everything from facility design and construction to fire protection, personnel training, and explosion hazard exclusion zones using computational models.
Disaster preparedness involves a series of proactive measures by governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to effectively respond and recover from any incident, whether industrial, human-made, or natural.
The ability to prepare for such events saves lives, reduces recovery time, and minimizes costs.
Fire safety management is a critical component of this strategy, falling under risk management and life safety.
Fire life safety must be managed through prevention, fire response, and people management.
In line with this, Bomba Sarawak has taken on the responsibility of educating communities on preparedness and response.
Our ultimate aim is to prevent and reduce the impact of disasters through knowledge and awareness.
With evolving technologies and stricter building regulations, we have better tools to strengthen fire safety and prevention measures.
But we must be realistic — building a fire-resistant and disaster-resilient Sarawak is no easy task.
Given the state’s vast geography and sparsely distributed population, this mission requires tremendous dedication.
Our goal is to ensure that every corner of Sarawak, from Telok Melano to Lawas, receives equal attention and outreach. Fire safety education must reach people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities.
Through consistent engagement, we aim to cultivate champions within each community who can lead by example in times of crisis.
Creating a resilient community requires coordinated efforts among all stakeholders, including the public, private sectors, and civil society.
Confidence in dealing with emergencies comes from knowledge and practice. Individuals who are trained and prepared are more likely to make decisions that protect their own lives and those of others.
We need a mindset shift in Sarawak.
Communities must embrace the 3Ps — Precaution, Prevention, and Protection — and adopt the ASKED approach: Attitude, Skills, Knowledge, Exposure, and Experience.
With these principles in place, we can turn fear into strength.
We want Sarawakians to face everything and rise — because ultimately, they determine their safety and that of their surroundings.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at khirudin.drahman@bomba.gov.my.
