FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISH SALAK TINGGI BUSHFIRE AFTER 13 HOURS

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- The bushfire in Salak Tinggi, which broke out yesterday afternoon, has been completely extinguished early this morning - nearly 13 hours after fire-fighting operations started.

KLIA Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Zone 5 chief Senior Fire Superintendent II Mohamad Issmanto Md Pono said that in the initial stages, the fire was reported to involve a small 0.61-hectare bushland area, but the blaze spread to 8.09 hectares due to the hot weather and strong wind.

"The blaze was finally put out at 5.37 am today, using a single open water flow of 1,000 feet at several fire spots, and it did not involve any building structures or victims,” he said when contacted today.

Yesterday, the fire department received a distress call at 4.32 pm, and the team arrived at the scene 14 minutes later.

Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters found that 0.49 hectares of bushland were on fire, which later spread to 2.43 hectares at 9 pm.

However, the fire was brought under control at 2.57 am today, with 80 per cent of the affected area extinguished, with firefighters combing through the remaining 20 per cent to ensure there is no re-ignition.

The firefighting operation involved 61 personnel, four Fire Rescue Tender (FRT) engines, and one water tanker.

-- BERNAMA