Pulau teluk renjuna: Separated from the mainland by the Kelantan River, residents of Pulau Teluk Renjuna and 12 other islands around it rely entirely on small boats as their primary mode of transport. Depending on the jetty used - either the Kuala Besar jetty in Kota Bharu or Pengkalan Kok Majid jetty here - the journey to any of the islands takes between five and 20 minutes.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the decision by the Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department to establish the state's first 'community fire point' in Teluk Renjuna is both timely and strategic, reflecting its commitment to improving emergency preparedness even though the area has never experienced a major fire. The community fire point is an initiative by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, through the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM), to ensure prompt emergency response in locations that are difficult for fire engines to access.
'The first three minutes after a fire breaks out determine whether a wooden house can still be saved,' Kelantan JBPM director Farhan Sufyan Borhan told Bernama. Teluk Renjuna and the nearby islands have a population of over 3,000, most of the people residing in kampung houses built from wood.
Firefighting operations on islands are considerably more challenging than on the mainland because they require far more complex logistical preparations. Firefighters must first secure boats and load them with pumps, hoses, and other firefighting equipment before they can even begin their journey to the scene. 'Preparing our waterborne assets alone can take up to an hour before an operation can commence. By the time we arrive at the scene of fire, some houses may already have been completely destroyed because the fire spreads so quickly,' Farhan Sufyan said.
The availability of a community fire point in remote villages and islands will enable the residents to take immediate action to contain a fire while waiting for firefighters to arrive. Activated on July 11, 2026, Kelantan's first community fire point in Teluk Renjuna will benefit its 600 residents, with the firefighting equipment stationed there also serving the villagers living on the surrounding islands.
To ensure residents are fully prepared for emergencies, members of the Teluk Renjuna Community Firefighting team underwent an intensive week-long training. They were trained to use the firefighting equipment and exposed to water rescue techniques using lifebuoys and throw bags. The team members were also taught to identify fire hazards, particularly electrical risks, and learned how to contain fires using whatever equipment is readily available nearby.
In addition to practical training, the community firefighting team members are groomed as fire safety agents through awareness campaigns and regular training to strengthen the culture of preparedness within the community. Meanwhile, commenting on fire trends in Kelantan, Farhan Sufyan said about 75 percent of fire incidents in the state are caused by electrical problems involving substations, electrical appliances, and wiring.
To improve public awareness, Kelantan JBPM has introduced its 'One Home, One Fire Extinguisher' campaign, with each extinguisher priced at between RM150 and RM170. However, many homeowners who already own fire extinguishers are still unable to use them effectively during emergencies because they lack proper knowledge and tend to panic when a fire occurs.
Farhan Sufyan said as of June 2026, Kelantan JBPM had responded to 3,679 incidents statewide, comprising 2,905 fire-related operations (78.9 percent), 740 rescue operations (20.1 percent), and 51 special operations (1.3 percent), while recording only three false alarms. During the same period, the department's average emergency response time stood at 10 minutes and 10 seconds. Fire incidents resulted in an estimated RM27.24 million in losses, while property worth approximately RM399.27 million was saved.
Teluk Renjuna Community Firefighting team chairman Mohd Amin Zulkahar Saari said the establishment of the community fire point has significantly improved the community's level of preparedness. He added that the community fire point will be jointly managed by the Community Firefighting Committee, the Village Development and Security Committee, and the local mosque committee to ensure that all equipment remains in good working condition through regular inspections.
The initiative has also boosted the confidence of younger residents, who now feel better equipped to respond if a fire occurs. Muhammad Adam Fitri Muhammad, 18, a member of the Teluk Renjuna Community Firefighting team, said the training he received not only expanded his knowledge but also gave him greater confidence to respond during emergencies.
Another resident, Nik Abdullah Nik Ismail, 40, said the training has changed his long-held perception that only firefighters were capable of controlling and extinguishing fires. The community fire point initiative demonstrates the authorities' commitment to improving public safety by addressing the unique challenges faced by remote communities, such as those living on islands and in rural areas. Community fire points have also been established in Kampung Patau-Patau 1 in Labuan, Kuala Lawas in Sarawak, and PPR Desa Mutiara in Johor Bahru, Johor.