KUCHING: Efforts to combat the bushfire and peat fire in Kampung Banting, Lawas, are intensifying, with the State Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA Sarawak) aiming to extinguish the remaining 10 hectares of the blaze.
BOMBA Sarawak director Datuk Khirudin Drahman said good progress has been made with a total area of 20 hectares successfully extinguished since it happened on Feb 20.
He commended the collaborative efforts in battling the fire, noting the involvement of various agencies including the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Malaysian Civil Defense Force (APM), Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA), Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), and Department of Environment (DoE).
“In this challenging battle against the inferno, the Lawas Fire Station’s team has been reinforced with additional manpower from Limbang Fire Station,” he told reporters at the BOMBA Sarawak Chinese New Year lunch engagement today (Feb 27).
He also said the use of drone surveillance to assess the operation’s efficacy and to plan future extinguishing strategies.
Khirudin highlighted the complexity of fighting dispersed hot spot areas, which complicates extinguishing efforts. To optimise operations, the Operational Command (PKO) divided into three teams, each tasked with managing different fire sectors.
“Despite the relentless nature of the fires, firefighting tactics such as direct attacking and total flooding remain effective, particularly in the hot spot areas,” he added.
He also mentioned the deployment of air units for water bombing inaccessible locations and the use of excavators to fight underground peat soil fires.
Khirudin stressed the importance of immediate action to contain the fires, aiming to minimise smoke and haze’s impact on the environment and community health.
He urged small farmers and the community to refrain from open burning or slash-and-burn practices to prevent further environmental damage.
“As such, I would like to advise small farmers and community to cooperate by not doing open burning or slash and burn method. This is to avoid unnecessary release of smog to the environment which will affect not only their livelihood, but health,” Khirudin appealed.
