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The Singapore Civil Defence Force ( during peacetime and emergency. A uniformed organisation under the purview of the Ministry Of Home Affairs , the SCDF provides Ambulance , Fire Fighting and emergency response services to the Republic of Singapore. It also plays a major role in the Republic's Disaster Relief operations. HISTORY For decades since its founding by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles , the British Colony of Singapore had no formal fire fighting force. Fire fighting was carried out using a cart of water and hand pump, and involved the Police , Sepoys , marine Soldiers and even Convicts . It is not until 1869 that the colonial government took the matter seriously and set up a Fire Brigade . A number of volunteer brigades were formed, but they were a motley crew and failed dismally when put to the task, performing no better than their predecessors. Following the establishment of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in England in 1866 and other fire-fighting systems in America , the Municipal Commission finally took over the responsibility of fire protection and established the Singapore Fire Brigade in 1888 . It was supplied with new Engines from Europe and fire stations were built with living quarters for trained and paid fire fighters. From 1908 , horse-drawn engines were replaced by motorised versions. The same year, the Central Fire Station along Hill Street was officially opened. In 1917 a motor ambulance was acquired by the Hospitals Board, and was put on loan to the Fire Brigade until the Hospital Buildings were completed. When an ambulance service for accident cases was established in March 1928 , it was put under the purview of the Fire Brigade. The early 1920s saw the introduction of 'Special Services' that did not pertain to putting out a fire. Over time it came to include services such as:
In March 1939 an Auxiliary Fire Service was formed to increase preparedness, in anticipation of war. The Fire Brigade continued to operate throughout the War Years despite the internment of its senior officers by the occupying Japanese forces. After the war, The Civil Defence Ordinance was passed in 1949 and the Auxiliary Fire Service was re-established in 1952 as part of the civil defence plan. It was eventually disbanded in 1961 . May 25 1961 saw the Bukit Ho Swee Fire ravage 250 acres, killing 4 and injuring 85. It remains the most extensive fire to date. On November 21 1972 the Robinsons Fire destroyed the famed department store, killing 9, including a pregnant woman. It caused damages estimated at S$21 million. It was this blaze that led to the first Fire Code in 1974 . From 1976 , National Service extended to the Fire Brigade. In 1980 , the name of the Singapore Fire Brigade was changed to the Singapore Fire Service (SFS). In 1981 the Civil Defence Command was formed under the wing of the Singapore Police Force to spearhead emergency preparedness for the nation. In 1982 , a new National Civil Defence Plan was launched. In 1983 the Civil Defence Command was renamed the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). 1984 saw SCDF launch the emergency number "995", which has been in use to this date. (Previous numbers used include 5555, 328111 and 3378111) In 1986 , purview of the SCDF was handed over to the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the MRT Strike Force was formed to deal with emergencies in the underground tunnels of the Mass Rapid Transit System , which were then under construction. On 15 March the same year, the Hotel New World Collapsed , killing 33 people. 17 were rescued. This incident saw joint operations between the SCDF and the SFS. The SCDF and the SFS were integrated on 15 April 1989 to form the Singapore Civil Defence Force as we know it today. In May 1990 the elite Disaster Assistance & Rescue Team (DART) unit was formed. That July, SCDF embarked on its first overseas disaster relief operation in Baguio , Philippines , following an earthquake. In 1991 the first sirens of the island-wide Public Warning System were installed. These were first tested in 1992 . 1993 saw SCDF rescuers dispatched to the scene of a collapsed 12-storey building in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia . In July 1995 the Fire Investigation Section was formed. This subsequently became the Fire Investigation Branch. In 1999 the Civil Defence Academy (CDA) in Chua Chu Kang was opened. The same year, a rescue team was dispatched to Taichung , Taiwan , to assist in rescue operations following an earthquake. On 15 April 2000 , the Home Affairs Minister Mr Wong Kan Seng unveiled the locally designed and built ''Light Fire Attack Vehicles'', affectionately known as 'Red Rhinos'. He also launched the Paramedic Service and commissioned 30 fire-bikes. In 2001 the new SCDF HQ Complex was opened in Ubi, near Paya Lebar. A number of Fire Stations and Fire Posts were also opened. In 2002 the SCDF conducted the first Open Mobilisation of its National Servicemen over broadcast media. In 2003 , to counter the threat of biological and chemical agents and/or accidents, the Special Rescue Battalion (SRB) was formed, equipped with locally designed decontamination vehicles (PDV, SDV), specialised rescue equipment, and the necessary expertise. HAZMAT training was also conducted for a new breed of SCDF personnel: the Emergency Response Specialists (ERS). The SCDF, together with the Singapore Armed Forces , responded to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami , dispatching personnel and equipment in a massive rescue and reconstruction operation. By then, the rescue and relief operations conducted overseas came to be known as Operation Lionheart. In that year, SCDF was also involved in two major local incidents, namely the collapse of Nicoll Highway and the Fusionpolis worksite collapse. International relief efforts were also undertaken in 2005 in the wake of natural disasters around the globe, especially the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake . Back home in the same year, a new SCDF building at Queensway was opened to house the 1st Division HQ, Queesntown Police Centre, Alexandra Fire Station, and Home Team Public Education Centre. Large-scale simulations of urban biological/chemical terrorism incidents involving mass casualties and infrastructure destruction were carried out as well to increase preparedness. SCDF also began enforcing regulation on the transportation of hazardous materials island-wide. In the year 2006 , the SCDF Basic Rescue Training Centre (BRTC) vacated its old premises, and moved into a new complex adjacent to the existing Civil Defense Academy. The Division Headquarters for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Divisions also moved into new integrated complexes in February to accommodate an expansion of operational capabilities, a minor restructuring, as well as a massive effort at modernising the Force. Unfortunately, SCDF suffered its first casualty since 1981 when Sergeant Shaik Amran, 24 died while on duty on 20 January 2006 in a traffic accident. (CNA) ORGANISATION STRUCTURE Formally, the SCDF is branched into several main Operational and Training Divisions, commanded by the Headquarters Element. The 4 Operational Divisions, also known as Territorial Divisions, each covers a vast section of Singapore, areas corresponding roughly to the four cardinal points of the compass. Each of the divisions possess their own bunkered and mobile Command Centres, Hazmat response capabilities, as well as full internal administration structures. The training facilities, whilst they do not cover any territory or have any primarily operational concerns, are recognised as divisions unto themselves, with full administration, supply and support units. In detail:
RANKS SCDF ranks feature the following Charges :
The ranks are displayed here in descending order from highest seniority at the top to lowest at the bottom. Commissioners
Note that for the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, the National Arms in the rank insignia is highlighted red. Commissioned Officers
Warrant Officers
Specialists
Enlistees
Position Titles
Special Titles
Such specialists are identified with an additional badge bearing the titles worn on the top of the sleeve. SEE ALSO REFERENCES
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