5 May 2023
As climate changes and population increases as well as the country develops, number of outbreaks of fire may rise, Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win said at the 77th Anniversary of Myanmar Fire Brigade Day marked at the Myanmar International Convention Centre-II in Nay Pyi Taw this morning.
The Vice-Senior General said fire breaks out in Myanmar yearly. During the 10 years period from 2013 to 2022, a total of 18,336 times of fire broke out in the country, losing more than Ks-155 billion worth of property, according to the records of the Department of Fire Services.
More than 1,800 times of fire broke out in the entire nation on an average yearly and it lost some Ks-15 billion per year. As climate changes and population increases as well as the country develops, number of outbreaks of fire may rise, he said.
It is necessary to raise public awareness for taking care of danger of fire and making fire preventive measures in order to reduce loss and damage in the outbreak of fire, he added.
The Vice-Senior General said he honoured all fire fighters steadfastly serving their duties on fire security of the people, prevention of natural disasters, search and rescue as well as public welfare tasks as public service at full capacity during the 77 years period.
Today, Myanmar is striving for the development of all sectors such as health, education, transport and communication, electric and energy, rural progress and media in accord with the democratic norms. With increasing hotels, motels, industrial structures, high-rise buildings and apartment blocks plus changing lifestyles, the people will surely face disasters including fires that will come together with such changes and development.
As such, it is the duty of firefighters to save the people from those dangers. Therefore, the role of the fire brigade will become higher in the urbanization sector.
The fire brigade is a colourless organization when it comes to politics because they have been serving the best interests of the State and the people at risk of their lives since it was born. The State is also presenting them with titles and medals for their gallantry and achievements.
Also present at the ceremony were SAC members Admiral Tin Aung San, Lt-Gen Soe Htut, Daw Dwe Bu, Mahn Nyein Maung, U Maung Ko, Dr Kyaw Tun, Khun San Lwin and U Shwe Kyein, Union ministers, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, deputy ministers, Nay Pyi Taw Council members, permanent secretaries, officers and service personnel of Myanmar Fire Brigade Headquarters, retired fire brigade officers, representatives of permanent, auxiliary and separate fire brigades from regions and states, award winning fire brigade members and guests.
