{
  "id": 2088062,
  "title": "Fire and Rescue Dept targets 9,500 citizen first responders nationwide",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/fire-and-rescue-dept-targets-9-500-citizen-first-responders-nationwide",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T06:34:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/08/1515202/fire-and-rescue-dept-targets-9500-citizen-first-responders-nationwide"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Fire and Rescue Department in Malaysia is launching a nationwide initiative to train 9,500 citizen first responders with basic life-saving skills and fire safety knowledge, as part of a campaign to reduce reliance on professional firefighters during emergencies. Deputy Director Abdul Razak Muda explained that the programme, which began in Sabah and has since expanded to Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Terengganu, Penang, and Sarawak, aims to create as many citizen life savers as possible to make fire and rescue services a shared responsibility. The training sessions cover six different skills, and the department plans to continue the programme next year with potentially updated content. The initiative also includes strengthening training for fire safety managers and officers to assess fire safety practices at various premises. Industries with existing Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) have demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach, such as a case in Terengganu where an ERT provided initial firefighting support before the Fire and Rescue Department arrived. The department is working to transfer this knowledge to communities, fostering a collaborative effort in emergency response.",
  "summary": "PASIR GUDANG: The Fire and Rescue Department is targeting 9,500 participants nationwide under a new programme to equip Malaysians with basic first responder and fire safety skills.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}