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Why is Fire Fighter's day celebrated on the 4th of May?

Firefighters dedicate their lives to the protection of life and property. Sometimes that dedication is in the form of countless hours volunteered over many years, in others it is many selfless years working in the industry. In all cases it risks the ultimate sacrifice of a firefighter’s life.

In Malaysia, The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, commonly known as Bomba, is the federal fire and rescue services agency in Malaysia. The Malay term 'Bomba' is derived from the Portuguese word bombeiros which carries the same meaning. It is currently led by YAS Dato' Mohammad Hamdan Bin Haji Wahid, Director General of Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia. 

International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) is a time where the world’s community can recognise and honour the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible. It is also a day in which current and past firefighters can be thanked for their contributions. 

International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) is observed on May 4. It was instituted after a proposal was emailed out across the world on January 4, 1999 due to the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a bushfire in Australia.

The tragic event

On December 2, 1998, a tragic event shook the Linton Community, Australia and the world. Firefighters in Linton, Australia, a populated region in Victoria, were fighting a large bush fire and called for mutual aid. This urgent mutual aid call brought the Geelong West Fire Brigade to the scene, not knowing the despair and tragedy that was in store. Garry Vredeveldt, Chris Evans, Stuart Davidson, Jason Thomas, and Matthew Armstrong all loaded into company’s truck. They were part of a strike team and were being sent to help extinguish the flames. As the five headed into the hot zone, the wind suddenly switched direction, engulfing the truck in flames and killing all five members. This unfortunate incident is what inspired JJ Edmondson to bring about an international holiday, called International Firefighters' Day, to support the lives lost and dedicated fire fighters who risk their lives every day to save life and property.

But why May the 4th?

The date ‘May 4’ was chosen for the day as it is the feast day of Saint Florian who happens to be the patron saint of firefighters. Saint Florian who was the first known commander of the firefighting team in the Roman Empire also lost his life while performing his duty

Be your own Fire Fighter

We here are Fire Fighter Industry have a vision of Fireproofing Malaysia since 1974. Our commitment to provide the best fire protection equipment and service has been shown when we were awarded the title "Small but Mighty" by National Geographic in 2018.  

In lieu with International Fire Fighter's Day on May 4th, we are running a special promotion on our 1kg Fire Fighter Extinguisher.  Click here to learn more! 



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