MIRI: Peat fires are still burning in this division, forcing two primary schools to be closed when Kuala Baram got shrouded by thick haze.
At 6am yesterday, Miri Industrial Training Institute (Institut Latihan Perindustrian Miri-ILP Miri) registered air pollutant index (API) at 387 and then shot up to 404 at 9am. At SK Kuala Baram 2, the reading went up from 168 at 6am to 204 in three hours.
Efforts are being carried out by firefighters and a Bombardier C415 aircraft or ‘Super Scooper’ of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to put out the fires.
According to Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief, the assets of both the MMEA and the fire department have been used in conjunction with one another in the firefighting.
“Our ground teams together with Naim firefighters have been mobilised along Kuala Baram highway and in other affected areas,” said Law. Yesterday morning, a helicopter of the fire department carried out water bombing behind Hamidah Welfare Complex.
On the sudden increase in the API in less than 24 hours, Law said it was due to the persistent hot and dry weather. “The dry weather has contributed to the recurring of the peat fires,” he said. Some of the burning areas are still producing smoke and ground teams have been mobilised to the area.
