Wildfires spreading in northern Sarawak, causing haze

Wildfires getting worse in plantations in Kuala Baram district in northern Sarawak. - Bomba Miri pic

MIRI: Dry conditions and strong winds are causing the spread of wildfires in several districts in northern Sarawak.

There are raging fires in plantation land in Kuala Baram, in Senadin housing estate, along Miri-Marudi road, and in Lawas.

Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief Supt Law Poh Kiong said these wildfires raging on land owned by two development consortiums in Kuala Baram are being made worse by the dry spell and strong wind.

"The weather condition now and over the next two days is expected to be dry.

"The low-water level and strong winds too are causing the fires to spread," he said on Monday (Feb 24).

The wildfires are also causing haze over the Kuala Baram and Miri districts.

Aside from the fires in Kuala Baram (15kms from Miri city), there are also wildfires in Eastwood Valley (5km from Miri) and Lambir (10kms from Miri), Miri-Marudi road (60kms from Miri) and Lawas (400kms north of Miri).

Law said the department has received public complaints about open-burning that are causing these spates of wildfires in Miri and Kuala Baram.

The department has deployed teams to the fire sites to douse the fires. - Star