Helicopter deployed to battle forest fire near Gua Niah in Sarawak

 

Today’s operation involved 17 firefighters, a fire engine, a four-wheel-drive vehicle and the MI-17 helicopter. - Pic courtesy of Fire and Rescue Dept.

MIRI: A helicopter was used in the operation to put out a forest fire on a hillslope near Gua Niah, Taman Negara Niah in Batu Niah today, as the hilly terrain continued to hamper firefighting efforts.

The Gua Niah area, a popular tourist destination in Sarawak famed for its limestone caves and prehistoric heritage, attracts visitors from around the world.

A Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department Operations Centre spokesman said a MI-17 helicopter belonging to the department's Air Unit conducted water bombing at 2.40pm today, with water taken from Sungai Niah.

The fire is believed to have been started by burning trees that were struck by lightning at two locations, the Bukit Traders Cave hillslope and Kuala Hangus in Gua Besar, yesterday afternoon.

"The fires, involving areas of about 1.618ha and 0.809ha, have been put out, while the remaining 0.809ha are still burning," they said, adding that firefighting operations were suspended at 4.20pm and would resume tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah apologised to visitors whose plans to visit Niah National Park in Miri were disrupted following its temporary closure due to a fire at a limestone hill.

He expressed hope that the fire would not spread further and cause extensive damage to the forest and natural heritage of the area.

He advised visitors who had planned trips to Niah National Park to monitor updates before travelling.

"If your visit is scheduled around this period, defer it for a while and come another time. We are very sorry for the inconvenience," he said, according to Borneo Post Online.

Today's operation involved 17 firefighters, a fire engine, a four-wheel-drive vehicle and the MI-17 helicopter, along with five Sarawak Forestry Corporation personnel.

Batu Niah Fire and Rescue Station firefighters were dispatched to the park yesterday to fight the fire after the department received a call at about 2pm.

However, they were unable to conduct firefighting operations on land as the fires were located near steep rocky hill peaks that were difficult to access.

The team could only conduct observations and discuss with SFC the temporary closure of the park to the public due to safety concerns. -- BERNAMA