FIREFIGHTERS DEPLOY HELICOPTER, DRONES TO BATTLE FIRES IN TATAU AND SIBU

BINTULU, March 26 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is using a helicopter to carry out water bombing to extinguish peatland fire in Kuala Tatau-Serupai, Tatau, due to the absence of open water sources at the location.

The Sarawak JBPM Operations Centre said the peatland fire has entered its fourth day, with the affected area estimated at eight hectares.

“Firefighters from the Tatau Fire and Rescue Station resumed firefighting operations, with initial monitoring conducted before action was taken.

“The fire has been spreading and is advancing towards nearby farms, but the location is remote and difficult to access,” the statement said.

In response, the JBPM air unit from Miri was deployed to the site, arriving at 10.51 am to assist in firefighting efforts using the water-bombing method.

The statement said a total of 15 water-bombing drops had been carried out as of 12.12 pm across several fire hotspots, increasing to 30 by 2 pm.

“The Mi-171 helicopter sourced water from the sea for the firefighting operation,” it said, adding that about three hectares of the affected area had been extinguished as of 3 pm.

The operation is led by Senior Fire Officer II Tawang Linggem, involving 11 personnel and three ground assets, while the Miri JBPM air unit comprises 14 personnel and a helicopter.

Meanwhile, in Sibu, firefighters are using drones to monitor a fire beneath an electrical substation near a driving institute at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman due to limited access to the site.

Sibu Zone 4 chief, Senior Fire Superintendent I Andy Alie said drones belonging to the Lanang Community Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Public Works Department (JKR) are being used to assess the situation and identify access routes.

“The area is inaccessible, so we are using drones to assess the fire status. Efforts are ongoing to find an access route to enable firefighting operations to be carried out promptly,” he told Bernama.

-- BERNAMA