The installation of call identity detection devices has tremendously reduced prank calls to Penang's Fire and Rescue Services.

Several years ago, the department's headquarters in Prai and 12 other stations were receiving hundreds of prank calls instead of actual complaints on fire and other tragedies.

Last year, the number of prank calls dropped to only 42, mostly from schoolchildren and teenagers, thanks to the new devices.

The department would now detect a prankster's number, return the call and 'lecture' the caller on the severity of his or her offence.

Since most of the pranksters were children, the department have also been 'lecturing' parents.

"The method has been effective and decisive in stopping children from wasting their time to make prank calls," said state fire and rescue department chief Rusmani Muhamad.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that last year alone, Penangites suffered more than RM45 million property losses in 1,419 fires and 1,715 tragedies such as road accident, spill of chemical and fuel, landslide, flood, building collapse and falling trees.

At the same time, however, more than RM2 billion worth of properties were saved from destruction in the same fires and tragedies, thanks to the quick thinking and swift action of fire and rescue personnel.

Human fault and apathy

In the first two months of this year, locals lost RM6.1 million while firemen saved nearly RM300 million worth of properties in 672 fires and 769 tragedies.

According to Rusmani, analysis by the department found that electrical short circuit, explosion of gas-fueled stove, strewn burning cigarettes and arson were the main causes of fires.

But further analysis showed that most fires were in fact caused by human fault and apathy.

"Building owners, tenants and general public should take initiative to check on the viability of electricity cables and wires, constantly clean up their stoves and stop throwing cigarettes butts everywhere," said Rusmani, who is pleased that the value of properties saved were far higher than the value lost.

To improve efficiency, Rusmani said the department would upgrade its fire-fighting utilities, set up more fire stations and voluntary neighbourhood fire squads.

ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini's Penang-based stringer.