KOTA SAMARAHAN: The frequency of fires in Sarawak is expected to decline this year with enforcement assistance from relevant agencies and the state government.
Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said the Sarawak government had also provided assistance in terms of enforcement using day and night infrared drones to detect any open burning fires conducted by individuals.
“Aside from that, advocacy for local communities to prevent from conducting open burning, were also carried out.
“So far, they are already aware of their responsibilities to prevent fires. If they need to perform open burning urgently, they have to get permission from enforcement and security agencies.
“Efforts and measures have been implemented which are meant as exposures to the community to be more careful in preventing fires,” he told the media after launching the Sarawak Bomba preparedness for the dry season at Kota Samarahan fire station today.
On another note, he hoped without any open burning, haze season would not occur in Sarawak.
“However, we cannot stop the smoke from our neighbouring country.
“InsyaAllah, if there is no haze, we can breathe cleaner air,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bomba Sarawak director Datuk Khirudin Drahman added that the department is working with the Department of Environment (DoE) and Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak to carry out monitoring via drones in forests during the night.
He said this is to monitor any fire activities happening in the forests using infrared.
“If we detect any activity, we can take immediate prevention action to make sure the fire does not spread,” he said.
Aside from that, the department has also carried out several simulations with the Sarawak Forest Department to make sure that their officers are involved in ensuring that the forests are moistened to prevent forest fires.
