Firemen battle hillside forest fire near Sepang IPD

 

A forest fire covering about 2.83 hectares — roughly the size of four football fields — broke out on hilly terrain near the Sepang district police headquarters early today. PIC COURTESY OF FIRE & RESCUE DEPT

KUALA LUMPUR: A forest fire covering about 2.83 hectares — roughly the size of four football fields — broke out on hilly terrain near the Sepang district police headquarters (IPD) early today.

The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department said it received an emergency call at 1.28am about the blaze along the road from Nilai towards Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi.

Its operations commander said firefighting operations were still underway.

"The fire is estimated to have affected about 2.83 hectares acres of hilly forest, and extinguishing operations are continuing. The station chief has been informed," he said in a statement.

Photos provided by the department showed bright flames and thick smoke rising above dense forest vegetation as firefighters from the KLIA Fire and Rescue Station, assisted by personnel from the Sepang Fire and Rescue Station, arrived at the scene at 1.48am.

A firefighter in protective gear was seen spraying water from a hose towards the flames.

A total of 14 firefighters were deployed, supported by a Fire Rescue Tender, a Light Fire Rescue Tender and a water tanker. - NST