Helicopters used to put out open fires in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) are carrying out water-bombing operations at seven locations around Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran and Kota Belud that are experiencing open fires.
Bomba director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohamad said the open fires are at the hilly areas of Pulau Gaya, a forest fire near UUC Telipok, as well as near Kampung Simpangan Tuaran, Jalan Layar Impian Tuaran, Jalan Dungang Tambalang, Kampung Kimo Kimo Kota Belud, and Kampung Liang Kota Belud.
“I have ordered air support using Mi17 helicopters based in Miri, Sarawak to carry out firefighting operations using the water bomb method starting today,” he said during the Bomba Sabah and Labuan excellent service awards ceremony here yesterday.
Nor Hisham said the department expects a surge in the number of open fires and peat fires here due to the current dry and hot climate.
He said based on statistics from the last three years, Sabah and Labuan respectively recorded an average of more than 820 and 116 cases per year of open fires involving forests, fields, bushes and garbage.
As a preliminary step, Bomba Sabah had marked 114 hot spots spanning 27,815.39 hectares for open fire incidents based on the trend for the past three years.
“A check also found that one of the causes of open fires in garden or farm areas is due to open burning by the owner, and the department takes this issue
seriously.
“I have instructed all zone chiefs, station chiefs and supervisors to approach village
chiefs to provide advice or warning for the public to not to carry out open burning for the time being,” he said.