The Fire Services Department will recruit officers for 318 posts in 2007-08. Director of Fire Services Kwok Jing-keung said a steering committee has been formed to set up a qualifications framework for both fire and ambulance personnel.

Mr Kwok today said two labrador retrievers have been trained to identify the presence of accelerant at fire scenes. Two fire investigation dog teams, each with a handler and a dog, will start service February 1.

Furry fire fighters: Director of Fire Services Kwok Jing-keung says two labrador retrievers have been trained to identify the presence of accelerants at fire scenes. The West Kowloon Rescue Training Centre is now equipped with advanced fire-fighting and rescue training facilities.

Rescue equipment

With the commissioning of the Ngong Ping 360 cable car system, and to meet the challenges rising from the cable car system at Ocean Park and the gondolas used to clean high-rise buildings, the department has procured rescue equipment to enhance operational efficiency.

The department will also procure advanced heavy-duty search equipment for large-scale rescue incidents such as building collapses.

An overcoat for ambulance personnel with a new style and fabric will be commissioned. Suppliers will produce the first batch of samples, which will be distributed to ambulance personnel for evaluation next month.

Mr Kwok said the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance is expected to be enforced in July to improve fire safety installation and equipment in old composite buildings and domestic premises. As over 9,000 buildings are involved, a phased implementation programme will be adopted. Phase I involves composite buildings constructed before 1973.

New training centre

On training, Mr Kwok said the West Kowloon Rescue Training Centre was commissioned last November.

"There are nine storeys in this centre. From the ground floor to the fourth floor, there are advanced fire-fighting and rescue training facilities while the other five storeys will be used as a rescue training tower.

"To strengthen the skills of fire personnel, various training facilities, including four different types of advanced fire rigs and a series of quality training facilities, are available in the centre."

Mr Kwok said construction of a diver training centre on Stonecutters Island will be completed by 2009. The fire station and ambulance facilities at Shenzhen Bay Control Point, the fireboat station on Cheung Chau, and the ambulance depot on the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line will be completed this year, while the plan for an ambulance depot at Mei Lai Road is in progress.

Department stats

There were 33,268 fire calls last year, down 11.9% on 2005. About 93.9% of building fires were handled within six minutes. The number of hill fires fell from 1,663 in 2005 to 1,232 last year.