Sometimes it’s about Fido the dog stuck in a menacing monsoon drain or Felix the cat stranded on a high tree branch, too fearful or rebellious to come down.
That’s why, apart from rescuing people from burning buildings, floods and landslides, they are also the knights in fireproof gear for the animal kingdom too – just like the firefighter who made headlines recently after rescuing a helpless kitten during a flash flood in Puchong.
The firefighting crew at the Shah Alam Fire and Rescue Station receive frantic calls to help troubled animals every single day. The calls often involve kittens, puppies and even birds. But those are pets.
Some days, the firefighters receive calls about stowaway snakes in someone’s home. The sight of serpents naturally strike fear in the hearts of many but for these firefighters, it’s all part and parcel of the job.
“If the firefighter is new, they usually start off by holding the snake by its tail and then develop the courage to hold the head. However, there are specific ways to hold a snake by its head because if you do it wrong, you’ll definitely get bitten,” explains 27-year-old firefighter Syah Nizam.
“But honestly, even if you have a fear of snakes, donning the firefighter suit will dispel the fear entirely because there is a feeling of bravery that comes with the outfit.”
Syah recalls a case where they had to rescue a cat from the 16th floor of a building – which meant they had to go through the balcony of the 15th floor.
“I once rescued a cat who was trapped near the air conditioner compressor. I had to beg and plead for her to come to me. Of all the many cats I rescued, that was the only one that made me beg,” laughs Shah in recollection.
But these are just one of the many stories. The firefighters have also been called upon to rescue a helpless stork caught in a net and a parrot that refused to leave a tree.
“The owner of the pet shop had bought this parrot from another country. As it had never once been out on its own, the bird sensed an opportunity when the owner opened the cage to feed it. It immediately flew out and decided to perch on a nearby tree, simply refusing to come down,” recalls 29-year-old firefighter Nazrin Gabra.
“We tried using a hose but it didn’t budge, so we had to cut down the branch. Still, the bird didn’t let go when the branch fell! Luckily, the frightened bird was alright in the end.”
However, Senior Fire Officer II Mohd Saiful Munir hopes that Malaysians understand how serious and important the duties of a firefighter are.
He recalled with a little dismay an emergency call his team once received, requiring firefighter assistance to help a pregnant cat deliver her kittens.
“Yes, we do have an Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) unit but they do not function as a veterinary team,” he sighs.
Exasperation aside, Saiful recalls his scariest experience during an emergency call involving a rabid dog one night at 10pm. The team had tried to contact the appropriate authorities, as someone was also bitten by the dog, but nobody picked up due to the late hour.
“Us firefighters only have equipment for rescue missions but no tranquiliser guns that could have helped with that case. But I couldn’t ignore the call either.
“When we arrived at the scene, the residents asked us how we were going to handle the emergency. It was tough because we usually rescue animals, but in the case of a rabid dog, what could we do?”
Saiful explains that one of his subordinates managed to soothe the dog but a sudden noise caused the dog to panic and bite him. The team eventually overpowered the dog and shoved him into a cage.
“It was scary to me because one of our own men got hurt and we had to rush him to a hospital. There are certain authorities responsible for handling such cases,” says Saiful.
That being said, the firefighter team is more than willing to help pet owners in need of aid or to rescue that helpless kitten caught in a tree. As long as it is within reason, our friendly firefighter teams are ever ready to help, no matter the emergency.
In the midst of all that’s happening in the world, let’s not forget another essential workforce: our firefighters. Thank you, ‘abang bomba’!