According to state JBPM director Farhan Sufyan Borhan, far too many people have the mindset that a fire won’t happen to them.
“Many think fires only happen to other people’s homes. They don’t realise a single faulty socket or overloaded extension cord can spark a fire,” he said.
“Some use multiple extension plugs on one socket. Others live in houses with 20-year-old wiring that is never inspected. These are time bombs.”
He cautioned that fires can break out anytime, without warning – while residents are asleep, at work, or even at home during the day.
“The real danger is not the flames but toxic smoke that fills rooms within minutes. Without a quick escape route, victims can pass out from suffocation before the flames reach them.”
As long as the “not me” myth persists, deaths caused by grille entrapment and lack of fire extinguishers will continue, he said – even though a good extinguisher cost less than RM100.
“People don’t buy them because they think it’s a waste. They don’t realise it can save lives and property,” he noted.
Indeed, most Malaysians believe extinguishers are only necessary in offices, shops or factories, where they are legally required. But at home, awareness is nearly absent, despite high residential fire rates each year.
“If a fire starts in the kitchen – for example a burning pot – an extinguisher can put it out immediately before it spreads to curtains or the ceiling,” Farhan explained.
Extinguishers also buy valuable escape time when flames spread rapidly. “Even if you can’t put a big fire out, you can use the extinguisher to clear an escape path. Without one, survival depends on luck.”
In developed countries like Japan and South Korea, extinguishers are essential household items, as are torchlights, first aid kits, and emergency supplies.
“In Malaysia, people only realise their importance after their house burns down. By then, it’s too late,” Farhan warned.
To counter this perception, JBPM Kelantan actively conducts fire-safety campaigns in schools and communities. This year alone, 158 such programmes have been held statewide, including evacuation drills and extinguisher training.
“We start educating children in kindergarten, primary school, and communities. The most important thing is they know the first action during a fire,” he said, stressing that teaching children from a young age is key to building a more fire-aware generation.
At the community level, programmes emphasise fire prevention: maintaining wiring, checking appliances, and choosing life-friendly grilles.
“We also teach them how to use extinguishers. Many don’t know; they think it must be shaken or aimed at the flames on top. Actually, you pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, and spray from a 1m distance while moving forward,” he outlined.
The biggest challenge, Farhan acknowledged, lies in ensuring people apply this knowledge in daily life. “Awareness without action means nothing. We can train and lecture, but if you still don’t check your old wiring or install safety grilles, tragedies can happen.”
Ultimately, he reminds everyone that while keeping homes safe from burglars is important, safeguarding lives must always take precedence.
“If a fire breaks out and padlocks can’t be opened or digital codes are forgotten, those grilles stop being protection: they become a death trap,” he stressed.
“There’s no point spending thousands on the strongest grille in the market if it ends up blocking your family’s escape. It’s not wrong to protect against theft – but never at the cost of your life.”