KOTA TINGGI PEAT FIRE: HELICOPTER WATER BOMBING FOCUSES ON CENTRAL AREA

KOTA TINGGI, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- MI-17 helicopters belonging to the Air Unit of the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) from Subang Jaya have intensified water bombing operations to extinguish a peatland fire at Jalan Sungai Kapal, Taman Bayu Damai here, with primary focus on the central area, which accounts for about 30 per cent of the total 99.54-hectare fire-affected area.

Johor JBPM Deputy Director Assistant Commissioner of Fire ((PPjB) Muhammad Al Mustakim Abdul Hady said the aerial operation prioritises areas inaccessible to ground teams due to distance and the lack of water sources.

“The helicopters' focus is on the central area, which is difficult to access. This operation is expected to help accelerate fire control in the affected sector,” he told reporters when met at the Fire Control Centre (PKB) at Jalan Langkah Baik 3 here today.

He said the MI-17 helicopters are capable of carrying up to 1,340 litres of water per flight, with water released over fire locations identified by the operations team.

According to him, as at noon today, about 54.8 per cent of the affected area has been successfully extinguished, and the deployment of aerial assets is expected to further increase the extinguishing rate, particularly in the central area.

“Besides extinguishing the fire, water bombing also helps to reduce smoke through water vapour, thereby minimising the impact on nearby residents. This is among the main objectives of the aerial operation,” he said.

He said both aerial and ground operations are being carried out simultaneously through a top-down and bottom-up attack approach, in addition to the construction of fire breaks and flooding in several sectors to prevent the fire from spreading.

He noted that the fire area has now been divided into nine sectors, with several sectors fully extinguished while others are close to being brought under control.

Mustakim said helicopter operations are expected to continue until this Friday, subject to current needs and on-site developments.

In a related development, as at noon, a total of 153 residents from 50 families in Taman Bayu Damai have been placed at two temporary evacuation centres (PPS) activated following the fire that has been ongoing since last Friday.

The operation has also received cooperation from external agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police, the Civil Defence Force (APM), the Pengerang Municipal Council, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), the Public Works Department and the Department of Environment.

The high rate of fire spread was attributed to dry and windy weather, causing thick smoke to spread into residential areas around Taman Bayu Damai, compounded by challenges such as limited water sources and difficult access routes to the fire location.

A Bernama check at the site found that firefighting operations using helicopters were still ongoing as at 1 pm today, with haze conditions around residential areas along Jalan Langkah Baik 3, Taman Bayu Damai showing improvement compared with yesterday.

-- BERNAMA