MarketFire and Rescue Department of Malaysia
Company Profile

Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia

The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, commonly known as Bomba, is a federal agency of Malaysia responsible for firefighting and technical rescue. Bomba is a Malay word derived from the Portuguese bombeiros which means 'firefighters'.

History
Firefighting services in Malaysia began in 1883 with the establishment of the Selangor fire and rescue volunteers led by H.F. Bellamy, with 15 active personnel. The Malayan Union Fire Services (MUS), based in Kuala Lumpur, was established after World War II, headed by Flight Lt. W.J. German. The firefighting services became the responsibility of state governments after the Malaysia Federation Agreement. The services were then integrated as a federal-level department on 1 January 1976, reporting to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. The department received a new name on 15 May 1981: "The Malaysian Fire Services Department". On 8 January 1997, the Malaysian Ministerial Cabinet agreed to change the coat of arms, flag, and name of the Malaysian Fire Services Department to the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department. These were officially launched in a ceremony at the Genting Highlands Fire and Rescue Station in Pahang on 21 February 1997, by Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad. == Organizational structure ==
Organizational structure
Fire and Rescue Academy There are five Fire and Rescue Academy of Malaysia (FRAM) () campuses which includes: • FRAM Central Region, Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor. • FRAM Eastern Region, Wakaf Tapai, Marang, Terengganu. • FRAM Northern Region, Tronoh, Perak. • FRAM Sabah Region, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. • FRAM Sarawak Region, Kuching, Sarawak. FRAM offers certificate and diploma level courses in fire and rescue. FRAM has a Band Unit that is attached to FRAM Central Region. The re-establishment was officiated by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin. Historically, the Auxiliary Fire Service was first formed in 1940. Then, after World War II, they were absorbed into the regular fire services. There are some differences between Auxiliaries and Volunteers. Auxiliary Firefighters () are formally trained at FRAM, while the Volunteer Firefighters receive their training at state and district fire stations. Auxiliary Firefighters are governed by the Fire Services Act 1988 and receive an allowance from the government. Volunteer Firefighters do not receive allowances from the government but are citizen volunteers serving as part of Volunteer Firefighting Teams based at Volunteer Fire Stations paid for by their local community. They are covered through insurance paid for by the Malaysian Government. Previously registered and governed by the Registrar of Societies, Volunteer Firefighters will now be registered and governed directly by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department after Parliament passed the Fire Services (Amendment) Act 2018. Mountain Search and Rescue After the Sabah earthquake that happened on 5 June 2015 affected Ranau and Mount Kinabalu, a specialist Mountain Search and Rescue team (MOSAR) was formed out of the Kinabalu Mountain Guides of Sabah Parks on 23 June 2015. In a ceremony at Ranau Fire Station, 20 Kinabalu Mountain Guides were appointed as Auxiliary Firefighters and designated as the founding members of MOSAR. The ceremony was officiated by the then Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan. MOSAR takes its place among Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department's specialist rescue units, which includes the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) and the Multi Skill Team (MUST). Volunteer Fire Force Volunteer Fire Force () traces their history back to 1883. The modern Volunteer Fire Force was formed in 1987 and protected under Section 62 (1) (CA) Fire and Rescue Services Act 1988. Each Volunteer Fire Force has their own fire stations, fire trucks, and equipment, which are usually sponsored by local industry. The primary role of the Volunteer Fire Force is to perform firefighting operations in their community. In case of fire emergencies in their community, the volunteers are the first there to control if not extinguish the fire. Their secondary role is to be the link between JBPM and their local community. In addition, they are entrusted by JBPM to spread awareness regarding to fire safety. The Volunteer Fire Force train regularly in district fire stations so that they and their equipment are in good shape for fire emergencies. The volunteers can be easily identified by their yellow Firefighting Operations Dress. == Uniform ==
Uniform
JBPM start using 'Very Dark Corn Flower Blue' for their official duty uniform since 1997. == Rank ==
Rank
List of ranks ==Medal of honour & Service bar==
Medal of honour & Service bar
• Based on PTKP Number 6 of 2024 - Regulations on the use of Service Ribbons and JBPM Service Medal Ribbons effective April 25, 2025. == Special operations ==
Special operations
Pasukan Khas Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia () is a term used by JBPM to its special trained firefighters. To differentiate with regular firefighters, Special Force firefighters wear a unit patch on the right shoulder and use different styles of camouflage and operations uniform. MUST Team, Smoke Jumpers (PASKUB), and STORM can be sent to overseas to help handling any disaster with STORM being the primary unit being sent. Special Forces Source: HAZMAT & CBRNE Team Formed on 29 October 1992 based on the recommendation made by the Royal Commission of Enquiry on the Bright Sparklers Fireworks disaster. Initially, the team was known as Hazmat Team and in 2001 after the September 11 disaster the department decided to incorporate the CBRNe component to its name. This elite team are well trained to deal with both man made and toxic industrial disaster. They are part of training provider for Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and also the main rescue agency under the National Security Council Directive No.18 and 20in Malaysia. it was Hazardous Material Unit Team or commonly known as "HAZMAT" is a JBPM's Special Force trusted to handle with five types of hazards which is: • Handling hazardous chemical spills. • Decontaminate JBPM personnel that have been exposed to hazardous materials. • Handling radioactive and radiation-emitting materials. • Handling fire caused by hazardous materials. • Handling Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Exposure (CBRNe) during wartime. MUST Team Multi-Skill Team (MUST) is an elite airborne team of JBPM. Formed on 11 September 1998, MUST is formed by combining all special trained firefighters into one team and supported by helicopters from JBPM Air Wing. MUST units are usually deployed whenever a certain special unit is unavailable in a certain area or when extra assistance is requested by other special units. MUST primarily serve as helicopter-borne firefighters mainly tasked with rescue involving airborne rappelling insertion. Although MUST is primarily an elite airborne unit, MUST can conduct support operations to assist other divisions (that are unavailable or requested) such as: • High Rise Rescue • Water Rescue • Major Road and Traffic Accident management • HAZMAT Operations (Support unit) • General Search and Rescue (basic) first responder • Emergency Medical and Rescue (helicopter-borne extraction) • Jungle Firefighting • High Angle RescueAir Rescue (rappel insertion) All MUST members are trained in helicopter-borne, emergency management in aircraft, jungle survival and sea-land navigation. Elite JBPM Rescue Swimmer Unit is attached to MUST. RIM Rapid Intervention Motorcycle Team (RIM) was formed in 1999 to tackle problems of late arriving rescue caused by traffic jammed in the big city. With superbikes equipped with basic Firefighting and rescue equipment, RIM team can handle small scale fire and Road and Traffic Accident (RTA) without having traffic problems. During bigger scale of fire, RIM team will arrive early and assess the size and type of incident, building, and materials involve and victim if any. RIM team also will help control the traffic for the fire truck movement. Water Rescue Unit Pasukan Penyelamat Dalam Air (PPDA); also known as Water Rescue Unit, their role is to deal with incidents and emergencies that occur in the water. This unit consists of qualified officers and men trained at local and overseas diving training centres. All members of the JBPM Water Rescue Unit are certified divers from the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). PASKUB Pasukan Khas Udara Bomba (PASKUB) () is a command for elite Smokejumper with support of helicopters from JBPM Air Wing. Smoke Jumpers Unit () is an elite unit of JBPM and trained in parachute insertion (static line and freefall), helicopter-borne operation and jungle survival. The formation of elite Smoke Jumper began in 2000 after JBPM sent five firefighters to enter the Basic Static Line Parachuting Course held at Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Sempang Air Force Base, Sungai Besi as the pioneer team Smoke Jumpers. The course was conducted by RMAF Special Operations Force, PASKAU until 2007 when JBPM established their own Static Ramp Air Course. Among the task of Smoke Jumper is: • Combat Air Rescue Medic • Medical Evacuation (Medevac) • Deep jungle/Isolated Area Firefighting Operations Smoke Jumper enjoys good relations with Malaysian Armed Force Special Operations Forces as they always train with RMAF PASKAU, Malaysian Army Grup Gerak Khas from PULPAK and Royal Malaysian Police VAT 69 Commando. PASKUB members are selected from various units including STORM, MUST and EMRS. EMRS Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) Team was formed in 2006 with cooperation from the Malaysian Ministry of Health and Malaysian Association of Traumatology and Emergency Medicine (MASTEM). EMRS was established as a Special Force Paramedic to rescue and conduct medical care to other JBPM Special Forces members if any incident occurs to them. However, EMRS can rescue and conduct medical care to civilians if there are no other ambulance or paramedics from the Malaysian Ministry of Health or State Health Department around. Typically, EMRS team is assigned to HAZMAT and Water Rescue unit and EMRS vehicle will go out in pairs with the other JBPM Special Forces vehicle to operations. EMRS members are also usually tasked as paramedics during JBPM Special Forces and Special Operations Forces Selections. Some EMRS members are trained in HAZMAT and Scuba diving. K9 Unit Detection Unit (K9), commonly known as K9 Unit, uses trained dogs to operate in the Search and Rescue (SAR) operations and investigation. The K9 Unit can be attached to the regular firefighting unit or JBPM Special Forces. The K9 Unit are typically deployed for fire investigation, urban search, bodies recovery, and wilderness search. and Sarawak, thereby extending the unit's coverage to East Malaysia. with nine dogs for Peninsular Malaysia, five for Sabah, and two for Sarawak. They were expected to arrived in Malaysia in October 2025 and operational by November. 15 out of the 16 K9 dogs arrived in Malaysia in October 2025, with the remaining one dog disqualified due to underwhelming performance. It's replacement is slated to arrived by the end of October and all 16 dogs will be deployed for official duties in December 2025. In August 2025, it's revealed that the department is planning to set up new K9 centres in Penang and on the East Coast to cut down deployment time. On 17 November 2025, it's confirmed that the new K9 centre in Penang will be built on a 5 acres (2.02 hectares) site at the Bertam Fire Station and JBPM Northern Region Air Base, which allow fast deployment to East Coast areas as well through JBPM's air unit. In 2023, K9 Unit under JBPM has been deployed for 308 cases. In 2024, the unit also handled 345 cases, a 12% increase from the previous year. and the National Day parade in 2023. Special Force Boat Team A support team task to support JBPM Special Forces with water transportation during operations involving of lake, river and sea. The boat crews are trained in water survival and able to perform water rescue to JBPM personnel and civilians if necessary. Special Operations Force STORM Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) unit is a part of the Malaysian Rapid Deployment Force () together with 10 Parachute Brigade (10 PARA) but with different task and role. Formed in March 2011, STORM winning is a Search and Rescue (SAR) experts and on standby for 24/7 at JBPM Airbases and State Branch Headquarters. Storm unit mainly task with SAR operations involving: • Night rescue operations • Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (Advanced) and Technical Rescue • Deep-jungle rescue • Cave rescueAir-sea rescueMountain rescue • Large-scale natural disaster • Airplane and Helicopter crash Dubbed as Komando Bomba (), to be selected as STORM members, firefighters need to pass the rigorous selection course which is on par as Basic Commando Course. Eligibility requirements including Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) standards of physical fitness that is also used by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) before trainee can even enter the Basic Storm Course. Once pass the Storm Survival Course, the graduate will receive a tactical knife, the same sort used by RMAF PASKAU, STORM patch and permission to wear STORM Red Helmet and STORM Version Camouflage Dress. Many of STORM members are drawn from Water Rescue Unit (PPDA), EMRS, HAZMAT Unit and MUST. For big operations, STORM work together with other federal SAR Special Force; Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) which under administration of the National Security Council. They are usually supported by the jungle experts, the aboriginal police unit; Senoi Praaq, Royal Malaysian Police's (RMP) VAT 69 Commando and General Operations Force, Malaysian Armed Force special operations force and Malaysian Civil Defence Force. == Current inventory ==
Current inventory
Vehicles Air units == In popular culture ==
In popular culture
• 2010: "Da Bomba", a comedy TV series by TV3, about Firefighters, their spouses and the fire station's living quarters Community. • 2016: "Abang Bomba I Love You", a romantic TV series by ASTRO, about a young girl fallen in love with her rescuer; a firefighter. • 2016 & 2020: "Hero", a TV series by RTM, about challenges faced by firefighters. Starring by Sharnaaz Ahmad, Tiz Zaqyah, Faezrul Khan, Rusdi Ramli Season 1) and Season 2 continue by Redza Rosli, Sarah Hildebrand, Aidil Aziz, Riz Amin, Anne Ngasri • 2025: "Legasi: Bomba The Movie", an action film directed by James Lee. Starring by Ben Amir, Nas-T and Henley Hii. == See also ==
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