Fires, trapped people, toxic spills, collapsed buildings… When things go wrong, you can rely on the specialists of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to save the day.
By Edwin Tam
Chances are that you might know someone who describes his job with one of these three words—routine, monotonous, lifeless. Second Warrant Officer Eric Lee Kar Kiat describes his job as “colourful”...
From monochrome to full colour
The lanky 28-year-old joined the SCDF in April 03 as a Fire and Rescue Specialist (FRS) after graduating from polytechnic. Since then, he has attained his current rank, become a Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Specialist, and graduated with a Bachelor in Applied Science from RMIT University in Australia.
When asked why he joined SCDF, Eric said, “For the first 20 years of my life, I had been monotonous—school, home, eat, sleep, rest, shop, movies, etc. Just like other teenagers. I realised, without excitement or responsibility, I would be like a robot in a routine lifestyle. That’s why I signed up with the SCDF.”
Eric certainly got the excitement that he wished for.
He and his team respond to an average of four incidents per month. Incidents involve situations such as oil and corrosive chemical spillages, fires, search and rescue operations, amongst others. According to Eric, “Turnout for incidents are good days for me. I can see things which most people do not see in their daily lives.”
For example, he was part of a search and rescue operation to evacuate two men from a ship. “The ship door had locked while they were packing things inside. It was air-tight. There would be no oxygen soon! We put on our breathing apparatus, combed the decks and opened all the doors,” he recalled. “We rescued both of them. One survived but the other–because of oxygen deficiency–was pronounced brain-dead at the hospital.”
From fireman to specialist
Like all new SCDF personnel, Eric underwent a six-month course where he was taught fire-fighting skills, rescue techniques, first aid, and command and leadership, after which he became a junior section commander at Tuas Fire Station.
In recounting his progression to specialist, he said, “I took a while to get my HazMat badge, for two reasons. One, I had to serve for at least one year. Two, personally I didn’t think I was ready. I wanted my superior’s opinion as to whether I was suitable. After three years, they decided that I should go for the HazMat Specialist Course.”
There are four specialist tracks for SCDF junior officers: Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team for complex rescue and fire-fighting situations; Fire Investigation to investigate the causes of major fires; Fire Safety to enforce the Fire Safety Act; and Hazardous Materials to detect and contain hazardous chemicals and biological agents.
“I’d rather specialise in things that I’m unfamiliar with,” said Eric, on why he chose to be a HazMat Specialist. “The course was quite unique. We were trained like chemists! We learnt about chemical reactions, how to contain toxic industrial chemicals and biological agents, etc. It was tough but fun.”
From mere drills to real skills
SCDF personnel are trained by mock turnouts to quickly take appropriate actions for situations. Of course, the situation changes during real incidents. “We learn to be flexible via our turnouts. Every incident is different. Thus going by the book, from ‘A’ to ‘Z’, might not work all the time,” said Eric. “Often we must also make decisions within split seconds. Turnouts do train us to make good decisions quickly.”
As a junior officer, Eric also manages subordinates. He concedes that people management is no mean feat as everyone comes from different racial and cultural backgrounds. However, he values this challenge as it enables him to hone his interpersonal skills. “I gain valuable experience in managing humans, one of the hardest resources to manage,” he quipped.
Last words
The dangerous nature of the job notwithstanding, SCDF personnel have irregular working hours. Eric works for 24 hours before resting 48 hours. However, those 48-hour “off days” are usually filled with events. “For example, I have an interview with you this morning. I am also a Liaison Officer to three Taiwanese officials in the afternoon. And the night ends off with a formal dinner in the evening.”
However, the perceived downsides of the job are overcome by an attractive remuneration package, where allowances are also afforded to specialists with certified skills.
Having been with the SCDF for five years, Eric knows what it takes to be a successful specialist. “I have a saying, ‘All that I can, I will.’ And when you do something, do it right. Most people are result-oriented. As long as the job is done to their liking, they will trust and be confident in you. That is how I approach everything.”