SANDAKAN: A second water village in the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency has received a firefighting house
(pic) as part of an expanding early-response initiative aimed at containing blazes before firefighters arrive.
The facility at Kampung Bokara, completed on June 4, is equipped with a water pump, six delivery hoses, a nozzle and fire extinguishers.
It follows a pilot project at Kampung Gas and is expected to be rolled out progressively to about 40 water villages across the constituency.
Kampung Bokara Village Head Nurdin Abidin said the facility had long been awaited by residents, given that the closely packed wooden houses in the area posed a high risk of rapid fire spread.
“Residents need a firefighting house because it can help control and extinguish fires at an early stage before they become larger.
“With this facility, residents have access to basic firefighting equipment that can be used in emergencies while waiting for firefighters to arrive,” he said.
Nurdin said the completion was timely following several fire incidents that had struck water villages in the district, including a major blaze at Kampung Bahagia that destroyed about 1,000 homes.
Kampung Bahagia falls within the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency, and the incident served as a reminder of the need for greater community preparedness.
The firefighting house has been strategically located at Jambatan 5. Nurdin also urged residents to keep at least a one-kilogramme fire extinguisher in each home as a first line of defence, acknowledging that not all households could currently afford one.
Meanwhile, Batu Sapi Parliamentary Liaison Officer Azhar Santong said the initiative forms part of the ongoing commitment of Batu Sapi Member of Parliament Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan to strengthen community safety and reduce the risk of property loss due to fire.
“Water villages face unique challenges in terms of accessibility and settlement density. The provision of these firefighting houses is a necessity to help communities respond more quickly during emergencies,” Azhar said.
He added that the constituency is also committed to establishing and mobilising volunteer fire teams among youths in water villages to serve as a frontline force in early firefighting operations.
Kampung Bokara’s volunteer fire team was formed and certified in January 2025, and Azhar said it is intended to serve as a model for other water village communities throughout the constituency.
