Efforts ongoing to put out peat fire in Inderapura

 

The operation to put out the peatland fire in the Inderapura Department of Agriculture area, which caught fire due to hot and dry weather on March 28, is still ongoing.

Taman Tas Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohd Hilmi Kashfi Mat Zali said as of today, the estimated area affected is about 300ha, starting from the department before spreading to the peat forest near the Inderapura Jaya residential area.

“Efforts to control and extinguish fires are carried out daily. It is estimated that the fire which affected 200ha of the agricultural area has been extinguished.

“The fire caused thick smoke, causing discomfort to Inderapura Jaya residents. We are faced with the challenge of putting out the fire of hot and dry weather, coupled with strong winds.

“The peat forest soil causes the fire to spread quickly, but we will try to put it out,” he said when contacted.

He said that the personnel involved also faced the threat of crocodiles because the area was identified as the animal’s habitat, after finding five crocodiles during the firefighting operation.

Hilmi said the extinguishing operation involved 20 personnel from fire stations at Taman Tas, Kuantan and Peramu, 12 staff from the Pahang Department of Irrigation and Drainage, as well as 20 members and two officers from the army.

“Two pump units were used to suck water from Sungai Soi to be channelled to the affected peat forest area,” he said.

- Bernama