Archive

Lifesavers on Bikes

Weaving through heavy traffic on their motorcycles, putting out fires with compressed air-foam backpacks and even restarting a heart, SCDF fire bikers are usually the first to arrive at the scene of an emergency. Thanks to their speedy and efficient fire bikes. The fire bikes were first introduced to combat increasing traffic congestion which delays fire appliances responding to emergencies. This is because response time is a critical factor in preventing the spread of fires. It was not until 2012 that fire bikers began to attend to both fire and medical cases.

LTA Mohammed Salih Shaik Dawood with the CPL60.

Scaling Greater Heights for the Rescue

Meet LTA Mohamed Salih Shaik Dawood, a Deputy Rota Commander of the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART), who has been with the Force for 24 years. LTA Shaik Dawood, then a second Warrant Officer (WO2), and his team were alerted to a HDB fire at Bukit Batok in 2019. “It was a raging fire! The window panes were shattering due to the intense heat. Our first priority was to get into the house and rescue the casualties immediately,” recalled LTA Shaik Dawood. In a flash, hoses were laid and firefighters broke into the heavily smoke-logged unit armed with water jets.

Always At Your Service

Clad in their neatly pressed uniform, these men and women are usually seen with the President of the Republic of Singapore at state ceremonies. You would have also seen them at the Istana during the Istana Open Houses. They are the Honorary Aide-de-Camp (HADC) to the President. Rescue 995 engaged two career officers and an Operationally Ready National Serviceman (ORNS) from SCDF in an exclusive interview as they share their accounts of having served as HADC in Singapore.

Competitive Boxer with a Passion to Save Lives

As the saying goes, “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” This Japanese proverb never ceases to inspire SGT2 Pang Ching Yen, Noelle, a paramedic from Sengkang Fire Station and a competitive boxer with a heart to serve the public. SGT2 Ching Yen joined the Life Saving Force in October 2018. She took up boxing as a sport out of interest but gradually, it blossomed into a transformative experience that even shaped her role as a paramedic.

A Fulfilling and Meaningful Career

Meet SSG Teo Wee Siong Vincent, a member of SCDF’s elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) who has been with the Force for over 12 years. He has been a DART Specialist since September 2018, an appointment in which he worked very hard to achieve. Rescue 995 engaged SSG Vincent in an exclusive interview as he shares his personal story, his aspiration to become a DART Specialist and his experiences at the frontline.

A March for the Nation

Despite the evolving pandemic situation, this year’s National Day Parade (NDP) brought together Singaporeans from all walks of life to celebrate Singapore’s 56th year of independence.

Farewell My Friends

The ringing of aft bells from SCDF’s vessels and the final water salute marked the end of service for the Force’s two longest-serving vessels, the Marine Fire Vessels (MFVs) dubbed Firefighter I and Firefighter II. The two MFVs, formerly known as Api Api 1 and Api Api 2, had operated under the ownership of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) until 2012 when they were transferred to SCDF. They were refurbished and renamed as Firefighter I and Firefighter II in 2013. Since then, the vessels have been deployed in numerous firefighting and rescue operations of the Life Saving Force.

SWO1 Irianto Bin Marino (left) and CPT Jadyn Toh Pei Xuan (right)

Grooming Generations of Life Savers

Trainers in SCDF play a key role in imparting valuable knowledge and skills to the trainees, grooming them to be life savers. Captain (CPT) Jadyn Toh Pei Xuan and Senior First Warrant Officer (SWO1) Irianto Bin Marino are two such trainers. They are actively involved in training officer cadets undergoing the Rota Commander Course (RCC) at the Leadership Development Centre of the Civil Defence Academy (CDA).

Ask the HazMat Specialist

Meet LTA Shin Won Tae, an SCDF frontline Commander and a HazMat (Hazardous Materials) Specialist from Alexandra Fire Station. LTA Shin served his full-time National Service in SCDF as a Section Commander in Clementi Fire Station from 2014 to 2016. In 2016, he was awarded the MHA Scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering at the National University of Singapore and he graduated with the Highest Distinction in 2020. He was also awarded the Overall Best Trainee for his outstanding performance during his Rota Commander Course at the Civil Defence Academy this year. In this exclusive Rescue 995 video interview, LTA Shin shares with us his exciting roles and responsibilities as a HazMat Specialist in The Life Saving Force.

The Dashing Off-Duty Paramedic to the Rescue

On a rainy evening a month ago, SGT2 Victor Phua, a Paramedic Trainee then, was travelling along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) with his family when a road traffic accident occurred...