30ha peatland fire in Betong, water bombing control Lundu blaze

 

Firefighters at the scene on Jalan Bungin, Betong. BORNEO POST/FIRE & RESCUE DEPT

SIBU: A 30ha peatland fire broke out at a former oil palm plantation along Jalan Bungin, Serembang, in Betong today, with firefighting operations currently underway to douse the blaze.

Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department Operations Centre said in a statement that they received an emergency call at 2.44pm. Six personnel from the Betong Fire Station were rushed to the scene and arrived at 3.15pm.

"Firefighting operations are ongoing as of 5pm. However, personnel are facing difficulties due to narrow access routes and the absence of water sources in the affected area," the statement read.

It added that the department requested the Betong Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to provide an excavator and smaller water tankers because heavy fire engines could not use the access roads.

In Lundu, the statement said the fire department's Air Unit conducted 13 water-bombing flights today to control a forest fire covering nearly 2ha in the Samunsam Forest Reserve.

The aerial operation began at 12.55pm and brought the fire under control before ending at 2.47pm, it said.

The statement said firefighters from the Lundu Fire Station continued ground operations with fire beaters until 4.30pm.

About 1.8ha of the burnt area were fully extinguished.

TAGS: JBPM, peatland fire, forest fire, Betong, Lundu, water bombing, Samunsam Forest Reserve - NST