In order to become a fireman, Alus learned from scratch, beginning with how to start a pump engine, connect hoses and hold a fire hose. The tasks have to be performed by firefighters.
By
Jumarto Yulianus
·6 minutes read
Achmad Berkati is no longer young. He will be 64 this year. However, as a volunteer firefighter, he knows no retirement age. His inner call to help fellow humans has never waned.
Three quarters of Achmad Berkati’s life has been dedicated to his work as a volunteer firefighter. When he was only 16, he joined the Indigenous Private Fire Brigade (BPK SP/) in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. Set up in 1973, BPK SP later led to the emergence of other BPKs in Banjarmasin.
“I felt called to become a firefighter because I was saddened by the suffering of victims of the big fire in Banjarmasin in 1973,” said Achmad, who is nicknamed Kai Alus or kakek (grandpa) Alus at command post (Posko) BPK SP-01, on May 26 (26/5/2021).
The fire of Oct. 9, 1973, occurred in South Banjarmasin district. The fire lasted for five and a half hours and razed an area of 1 square kilometer. A total of 2,295 houses and buildings were devastated and 9,750 people lost their homes. Material losses were estimated at Rp 5 billion (US$349,772). (Kompas, 11/10/1973)
Kai Alus witnessed the blaze. The razed settlement was located across his district, only separated by the Martapura River, with a distance of less than 2 km.
“But I could do nothing at that time,” said the father of three daughters.
After the fire, local residents established the BPK SP. There were only three BPKs in Banjarmasin then, which were the Banjarmasin Municipal BPK, BPK Chung Hwa Chung Hui, later rechristened the Indonesian Youth Association (Hippindo), and BPK SPGB owned by a rubber company.
Alus joined the brigade when it was first formed.
“I’m just eager to lend people a helping hand. I feel sorry for those stricken by fire disasters,” said the jewel trader at Malabar Market, Banjarmasin.
Experiences
In order to become a fireman, Alus learned from scratch, beginning with how to start a pump engine, connect hoses and hold a fire hose. The tasks have to be performed by firefighters. He also engages in routine training with his peers when there’s no fire.
According to the grandfather of three, holding a hose is not as easy as commonly thought. It requires strength and technique to direct the nozzle at an object.
“A resident once grabbed the hose from my hands as he wanted to save his burning house. But the hose got loose from his hands and twisted on the ground,” he recalled.
On various firefighting occasions, Alus was tasked with handling the suction hose. This job requires him to plunge into water the prevent garbage and dirt from being sucked into and clogging the hose.
He once dove into water filled with human excrement. This happened during a fire in a narrow alley where water sources were hard to find.
“At the time I wasn’t aware that there was a power blackout. As soon as I found water, I directly plunged into it. Only after the water jetting was over did I realize that the water contained a lot of feces,” Alus said with a laugh.
Once, as he was trying to put out a blazing fire, a panic-stricken and furious resident approached him as the man’s house was burning. This man wielded a blade and threatened Alus to let him use the hose. After it was given to him, the man was unable to hold the hose properly.
The many different experiences failed to deter Alus from firefighting. He gets inner satisfaction when he is able to help other people.
“Many residents came to embrace me while crying when their houses could be saved from fires. Their expressions of thankfulness are enough to make me happy,” he said.
No self-interest
The job as a fireman is performed by Alus without any ulterior motive. He and his peers from different backgrounds and occupations get no salaries or other payments and never expect any compensation. He even frequently spends some private money on firefighting operations.
Even if it occurs at midnight or before dawn, he is still prepared to go.
Alus is always ready round the clock for his firefighting duties. When a fire breaks out at noon, he closes and leaves his jewelry kiosk at Malabar Market to execute the humanitarian job. Even if it occurs at midnight or before dawn, he is still prepared to go.
“Now, I join field activities only once in a while because there are already many youths. Even if I work in the field, I no longer hold the hose, but I keep controlling the young people and remind them to always be very careful,” said the energetic man.
The husband of Siti Zahra, 60, claims to be happy to see many young people in Banjarmasin interested in serving as firefighters.
“The spirit to help others without self-interest must never fade. Do not ever calculate any profit and loss. God willing, everything they do will be rewarded,” said Alus, now entrusted with the post of BPK SP adviser.
BPK SP general chairman Said Abdullah Faisal Fachir said Kai Alus was highly dedicated to firefighting affairs, especially in the SP unit.
“His age cannot defeat his enthusiasm to remain in charge whenever there’s a fire — no wonder he is much loved by and close to all SP members, young and old,” he said.
As the most senior figure in BPK SP, Kai Alus is a role model for all other members. Faisal also always expresses his hope that Kai Alus will not be over-fatigued, will always maintain good health and give advice and warnings to younger members so that all SP members will preserve their unity, integrity and brotherhood.
“From Kai Alus, we learn to always zealously offer help to fellow humans while maintaining safety and security on the roads and locations of fires. Our intention to help others should not even make people help us. Neither should our good lead us to the path of law enforcement due to mistaken deeds,” added Faisal.
Achmad Berkati aka Kai Alus
Born:Banjarmasin, June 23, 1957
Wife:Siti Zahra
Education:Junior High School
Occupation:Trader
Organization:Barisan Pemadam Kebakaran (BPK) Swasta Pribumi (Indigenous Private Fire Brigade)