From fires to landslides, K9 dogs answered 277 calls in 2026
KOTA BARU: The Fire and Rescue Department’s K9 Unit responded to 277 cases nationwide last year, with Sarawak recording the highest number at 64.
The Fire and Rescue Department's K9 Unit responded to 277 fire and rescue cases nationwide in 2026, with Sarawak leading the count at 64. Selangor and Perak followed with 39 and 27 cases respectively. In the first half of the year, the unit handled 124 cases, with Selangor leading again at 28, Sarawak at 24, and Perak at 11. The department currently employs 32 detection dogs from five breeds, with English Springer Spaniels and Labradors most frequently utilized.
The K9 Unit's operations encompass four main areas: fire investigation, Urban Disaster Search and Rescue (UDSAR), SAR Cadaver and SAR Wilderness. Dogs assist in detecting fire accelerants, locating trapped survivors, identifying deceased victims, and finding missing persons in remote areas. Their use helps reduce the need for large rescue teams and expedites search operations.
Notable missions include the K9 deployment in the 2017 arson attack at Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Tahfiz Centre in Kuala Lumpur, which rescued 21 students and two teachers, and the 2022 landslide rescue at Father's Organic Farm campsite in Batang Kali, where six dogs quickly located six victims. The K9 Unit aims to enhance its capabilities and support the department's search, rescue, and fire investigation operations nationwide.
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