The fire broke out around noon today along Jalan Kejatau-Lingga, with firefighters managing to extinguish about 20ha of the affected area before operations were suspended about 7.50pm.
A Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department operations control centre spokesman said the department received an emergency call at 1.19pm, prompting a team from the Sri Aman Fire and Rescue Station to be dispatched to the scene.
"The seven-member team arrived at 1.35pm and immediately began firefighting operations using water from an open source at a nearby drain.
"Water was also supplied by tankers from the Rural Water Supply Department and the Betong Fire and Rescue Station to replenish the fire engines' water tanks.
"Firefighters also created firebreaks to prevent the flames from spreading further, with an excavator from the Sri Aman Department of Irrigation and Drainage assisting efforts to contain the blaze," the spokesman said.
He said firefighting operations would resume tomorrow due to darkness and limited water sources at the site.
The operation was also hampered by several challenges, including a lack of communication coverage, strong winds that caused the fire to spread rapidly, limited open water sources and narrow roads that made it difficult for fire engines to reach the affected areas.
Meanwhile, Sri Aman recorded an unhealthy Air Pollutant Index reading of 114 as of 9pm today. - NST
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