KUCHING: The state Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) recorded a total of 250 cases of bush, forest and peat fires throughout the state over the past 11 days. This translated to an average of 23 cases recorded daily, said its assistant operations director Tiong Ling Hii yesterday. He disclosed that the department recorded 58 cases, the highest cases in a single-day, on Saturday.
Tiong said people in the affected areas appeared to ignore advices by firefighters to avoid
open burning especially in the ‘hot and dry’ weather. “As of yesterday, most fire cases occurred in farming areas caused by open burning activities by the farmers for their agricultural purposes.
“It is possible that they have opted to use their weekend to carry out their agricultural activities. Once the fire spread and they couldn’t contain it, they resorted to contacting the firefighters for assistance to put off the flames,” he added. Meanwhile, the Air Pollutant Index (API) throughout the state as at 12pm yesterday showed that ILP Miri was still in the hazardous level recording a reading of 388.
Other stations recorded moderate level with Miri (85), Limbang (58), Samalaju (68), Bintulu (75), Mukah (82), Kapit (63), Sibu (76), Sarikei (73), Sri Aman (86), Samarahan (98) and Kuching (90). An API reading of between zero to 50 is good, 51 to 100 is m o d e rat e, 1 0 1 t o 2 0 0 i s unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy, while above 300 is considered hazardous.
A nationwide API reading on the air quality update can be obtained through the Department of Environment’s website http:// apims.doe.my.
