Fire Dept warns against uncontrolled burning

KUANTAN: The Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia recorded 6,566 cases of fire incidents at farms, forests, bushes and rubbish dumps nationwide due to the prolonged hot weather in the first two months of the year.

Its director-general Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said 4,667 of the fire cases involved bushes/wild grass, rubbish (878), followed by forest (682) and farms (339).

He said most of the fire incidents were man-made, such as throwing away cigarette butts and empty gas canisters during picnic activities, deliberately making smallscale uncontrolled burning, opening of agricultural farms and replanting.

“However, in the current hot spell, any uncontrolled burning activity is prohibited as it may contribute to air pollution and haze.

“Our officers and staff nationwide have been instructed to be on the alert. The logistics and human resources at 16 operational centres nationwide are ready to handle open burning cases.

“The Air Unit is also geared up. If needed, we can mobilise their services from the bases in Subang, Selangor and Bertam, Melaka,” he told a press conference at the presentation of medals and excellent service awards at the Pahang Fire and Rescue Department headquarters here yesterday.

Present were Pahang Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department director Nor Hisham Mohammad and his deputy Mohd Sani Harul.

Hamdan said up to Sunday, there were 680 cases of open burning in Pahang, up by 262 per cent, compared with 188 cases during the same period last year.

He said based on records, Kuantan district recorded the highest number of calls on open burning (321), followed by Pekan (152) and Temerloh (131).

Hamdan said the Pahang Fire and Rescue Department had activated the Haze Operation Room at the state headquarters.

“The rotation of duties at all fire departments in three districts, namely Kuantan, Pekan and Rompin involving nine stations, are temporarily extended from 12 hours to 24 hours, to increase on-duty staffing.”

The logistics and human resources at 16 operational centres nationwide are ready to handle open burning cases.

MOHAMMAD HAMDAN WAHID

Fire and Rescue Department director-general