PETALING JAYA: According to the data, over 90% of households in Malaysia do not have a fire extinguisher, indicating a lack of focus on fire safety at home.
As of last year, only 8.9% of homes in the entire country have a fire extinguisher, which is crucial as the first line of defence against a fire.
Negri Sembilan had the lowest percentage of houses with a fire extinguisher, with only 1.1% ownership, while Putrajaya had the highest ownership at 37.9%.
This data is based on the Basic Amenities Survey Report 2022 by the Statistics Department, published in September 2023.
Putrajaya also had the highest percentage of homes with a fire alarm or smoke detector, with 19% ownership, compared to the national percentage of just 5.2%.
At the district level, Penampang in Sabah had the highest proportion of homes with a fire extinguisher, with 39% owning at least one such device, based on a survey collecting 89,253 household responses throughout the country.
Find out the level of homes’ preparedness in your district in the table below:
All homes should be protected
Despite the fact that people spend a large amount of time at home, only a small percentage of homes have fire safety equipment.
Malaysian Fire Protection Association (MFPA) treasurer Teh Khay Leong stated that the average person spends about 12 to 16 hours at home each day, making it crucial to have protection against residential fires, with a fire extinguisher being a necessity for every household.
“The MFPA hopes our laws will make it mandatory for all new homes, regardless of number of floors, to be equipped with at least a portable fire extinguisher and smoke detector.
“This can be achieved with the cooperation of building developers, who sometimes provide free air-conditioners, refrigerators, and other appliances to promote property sales,” he said.
There is currently no law to ensure every home in Malaysia has a fire extinguisher, although some developers do provide them in new properties as a goodwill gesture, not as a requirement.
He suggested that smoke detectors and portable fire extinguishers be included in the sales and purchase agreement between the house buyer and developer.
A burning issue
According to the Fire and Rescue Department, there have been thousands of fire incidents every month, with 3,255 fire incidents nationwide in May of this year.
Residential fires have resulted in several notable cases this year, some leading to deaths.
Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye emphasized the need to enhance fire safety awareness in Malaysia.
“One thing we can do is declutter our homes by discarding highly combustible items like wastepaper, old magazines, and rags that are near sources of fire,” he said.
Lee also noted that kitchen fires are a common occurrence and advised against attempting to extinguish flames with water, as pouring water on a grease fire may cause the oil to spread further. He recommended using a fire blanket or a damp cloth instead.
Everyone is urged to prioritize fire safety as having the right knowledge and tools can save lives, and households should ideally be equipped with a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, fire blanket, and emergency first aid kit.
The MFPA’s Teh emphasized the importance of educating people on fire safety from a young age and suggested purchasing a fire extinguisher from a certified fire protection or servicing company, ensuring the pressure gauge is in the green zone to indicate readiness for use.
Here’s more information on how to enhance fire safety at home:
