'Red Heroes’: A Journey Of Service Above Self

He’s not waiting for his team from JBPM – commonly known as Bomba - but for this writer, who has scheduled an appointment to join a technical rope rescue training session – using the Highline Horizontal Rescue Technique – at the foot of Gunung Nuang, Hulu Langat, Selangor, that morning.

Despite dark clouds looming on the morning of July 14, the journey to the destination, about an hour's drive from the Pandan Indah Fire Station, proceeded as planned, with the writer riding in the Fire Department’s utility vehicle.

"I used to think that a firefighter's job was just to extinguish fires and wait for emergency calls," said Sharin Yusmar, 45, who holds a degree in marketing from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), as he began the conversation.

However, everything changed after he joined the fire department in 2007. This role demands sacrifice, strength, full-time dedication, and the willingness to risk one’s life to serve the community, all guided by the principle of ‘service above self.’

"When I joined JBPM, my knowledge expanded. It’s not just about extinguishing fires; it's about prioritising saving lives. Besides firefighting, I’ve had the opportunity to explore various fields, such as the air unit, water rescue, and handling chemical incidents," he said.

 “Kuala Lumpur and Selangor present the most challenges in terms of lifestyle, hectic work schedules, high literacy rates, education, and various types of incidents. It’s quite demanding,” he said, sharing his experiences with the writer during the journey to the foot of Gunung Nuang.

The vehicle that Sharin and I were riding in was driven by Wan Khairul Azmi Wan Mohamad, a Fire Officer from Zone 4 Hulu Langat, JBPM Selangor.

He has served the department for 18 years starting with JBPM Kelantan in 2007, followed by JBPM Pahang in 2012, and finally as the Head of Zone 4 Hulu Langat at JBPM Selangor (from 2020 until now).

 

Throughout his service as a firefighter, Sharin Yusmar has also embraced this motto and principle, ‘No soul left behind, try as hard as we can, leave the result to Allah SWT.’ 

During his service, he has handled hundreds of cases, both big and small, including the landslide tragedy in Batang Kali, Selangor, which claimed 31 lives. That tragic event still lingers in his memory.

"I was personally involved in the search and rescue efforts for the buried victims. One thing I can't forget is pulling out a family embracing each other in a tent, including children. It left a deep impact on us rescuers. We did our best to save lives, but Allah's plan is greater," said the Kedah-born firefighter.

 As the ground commander at that time, he played a crucial role as the last person to manage entry into the Red Zone for search and rescue (SAR) operations, coordinating with safety agencies and special teams with specific expertise.

 “I was directly involved in Batang Kali. I acted as the safety officer for the personnel on the ground, alerting the drivers of machinery and excavators about their movements. It wasn't an easy task, protecting the lives of those still alive while searching for the victims buried under the rubble," he said.

According to him, it was during this time that the wisdom of the safety personnel was tested in locating buried victims. They used formulas, calculations, mathematics, and geological projections, all of which were meticulously mapped out on paper to find the exact locations.

 “The calculations on paper produced formulas and physical movement patterns, all of which were reviewed thoroughly. For instance, if a child is seven years old, we calculate their weight and the distance the soil might drag them. Fortunately, the lead officer at that time was very knowledgeable in this area,” he said.

Besides facing challenges with soft, muddy soil as deep as 16 metres during the 11-day SAR operation, Sharin Yusmar said his task also required him to expertly coordinate the movements of safety personnel in the field.

"Factors such as the vast area, rain, maintaining mental composure, working through the night with insufficient rest, and managing the large fire department team made it challenging. We were caught between hope and determination, wanting to find them, but uncertain of when we would succeed.

"The feeling was mixed—there was sadness, but the satisfaction of knowing that the team was giving their all, risking life and death, kept us going until the last victim was found. Many safety personnel cried when the final body was discovered," he said.

 

Although firemen may seem strong on the outside, they are ordinary humans with feelings. They too experience stress and trauma, especially when faced with unexpected and heartbreaking situations.

Sharin Yusmar also personally experienced a dark moment when he became a victim himself during a fire operation at an old tyre factory warehouse in the Pengkalan Chepa Industrial Area, Kelantan, in 2012. A diesel tank suddenly exploded, and the fire engulfed him and his team members.

"I witnessed the explosion myself and was also involved in it, which injured 12 people, including myself. Two of my team members were critically injured from burns, while others suffered burns to varying degrees.

"As the operation commander, the impact of that incident was how we managed the situation, gathered the team back together, and calmed everyone down when we saw our colleagues fall, scream, and ask for help. In normal circumstances, we worked and ate together, and suddenly they were down," he said.

He said that although there were no fatalities, some members suffered permanent disfigurement, losing their original appearance and having ears that were reduced to the size of a thumb.

 

Although the duties of JBPM members require them to be serious and focused, and they cannot escape from the pressures of their work, they are not exempt from encountering funny and amusing situations.

There was one time when a snake they had captured and placed in a sack went missing while they were on their way back in a Compact Fire Rescue Tender (CFRT) vehicle in the capital.

"When we realised the snake was gone, we immediately stopped the vehicle in the middle of the road, and everyone jumped out in fear that the snake had escaped and was still inside the vehicle.

"After searching, we found that the snake had coiled up near the passenger's headrest. Fortunately, we noticed it quickly," he said.

There was also a case involving an emergency call from a man saying he was locked inside his house.

"When we arrived at the house, we started doing our job. Suddenly, a woman, who was also the man's wife, showed up. It turned out she had locked the door because she didn't want her husband to leave—they were in the middle of a fight.

"Then there was another case when we received a call about a sighting of a crocodile. But when we got there, it turned out to be just a catfish," he said, still unable to hold back his laughter as he recalled those moments.

 

Every time he is on duty, saving victims of all ages, Sharin Yusmar never forgets his wife and five children, who live far away in Terengganu.

For 12 years, he has been living in a long-distance marriage, often referred to as ‘Pasangan Jarak Jauh’ (PJJ), but he has never complained or regretted his decision to become a firefighter.

"I always imagine that the victim could be a member of my family, so I make sure to carry out rescue work diligently to ensure that, as much as possible, no tears are shed over the loss of a family member," he said.

He admitted that sometimes his wife and children long for his presence, but the duties and responsibilities he carries as a safety officer take precedence.

"Inside the fence of my home, I belong to my family; outside the fence, I belong to the community," he asserted.

 

 CROSS BORDER ASSISTANCE

While listening intently to Sharin Yusmar's stories, we unknowingly arrived at the foot of Gunung Nuang. There, Operations Officer Khairulnisham Salleh from Bandar Tun Hussein Onn Fire Station, along with five of his team members, were already waiting.

Having the opportunity to try out the technical rope rescue technique—hanging on a rope while carrying a stretcher across a river—proved to be no easy task and required a very high level of teamwork.

“I can't imagine how the JBPM officers manage to do this job, especially since carrying an empty stretcher already feels heavy, let alone carrying a person," said my colleague, Hana Shafirah Nazir from Bernama TV, who also participated in the training.

However, Sharin Yusmar noted that this is just a small part of the firefighters' duties, which include various rescue operations.

"Without teamwork, we won't succeed in any operation," he said.

I also took the opportunity to "dig into the experience" of Khairulnisham, who has been serving as a firefighter for 34 years. It turns out that he was involved in the SAR operation during the Highland Towers tragedy in Ulu Klang, Selangor, about 31 years ago. The condominium collapse on Dec 11, 1993, claimed 48 lives.

"We arrived about 30 minutes after the collapse happened, and the dust was still in the air when we got there. It was the first time I saw a 12-storey building collapse. Within a few days, many security personnel from Singapore, Japan, and France came to help with advanced equipment.

"Firefighters from all over Malaysia came, with about 20 firefighters from each state camping at the site for two weeks until the case was resolved," said Khairulnisham, who was stationed at the Hang Tuah Fire Station at that time.

Following the incident, the government established the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) in 1995, consisting of officers and members from the Malaysian Armed Forces, JBPM, and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), with Khairulnisham being one of the first to join.

With expertise in collapsed structures, earthquakes, confined spaces, and water rescues, and equipped with the latest and modern equipment, Khairulnisham was among the 25 SMART members sent to Aceh, Indonesia, a day after the region was struck by a tsunami in 2004.

Upon arriving at Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Banda Aceh, Khairulnisham witnessed firsthand the difficulties faced by the survivors, with some gathering at the airport to find a way out, while others sought shelter in mosques.

“We set up tents in the middle of rice fields filled with water and mud, where the people grew their crops. That was the only safe and elevated place to pitch tents. That’s where our life as rescuers began for two weeks. All the food was cooked on the rice field levee,” he said.

It was like mangosteens falling from a tree. That was what crossed his mind when he saw the piles of bodies from the tragedy that occurred a day after Christmas in 2004.

“After spending two weeks there, I gained a profound understanding of life, the greatness of God's power, the vast number of people who died, how small this world is, and how insignificant humans are in this world,” said Khairulnisham, who has attended numerous rescue courses abroad, including in Germany, Brazil, Singapore, Thailand, and Turkiye.

He said that as a firefighter, he will serve with all his heart and soul, as long as he lives.

"When we join the fire department, we must have the intention to help people with their property, lives, and more. We must have a strong mentality, discipline, and energy. Even if people think our job is trivial, we must ignore that," he said.

 

This writer also had the opportunity to interview the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Director, Wan Md Razali Wan Ismail. He emphasised that the primary focus of JBPM in every fire and rescue service is the responsibility of saving lives for the public’s well-being.

"Unpredictable weather and seasonal changes, along with rapid technological advancements, require JBPM to always be prepared in terms of personnel and logistics to face any disaster or calamity.

"The challenges and trials are indeed numerous, and each case attended by the department presents unique obstacles," he said.

 Minister of Local Government Development, Nga Kor Ming, was earlier reported as saying that RM267 million had been allocated to JBPM for asset acquisition and project implementation—this is the largest amount ever allocated to an agency under his ministry.

A total of 84 new fire stations are needed nationwide to improve the quality, capability, and efficiency of JBPM in providing services to the community.

Currently, Malaysia has 337 fire stations, and the fire risk index is used to assess the need for additional facilities.

 

Translated by Salbiah Said