HOT WEATHER: PERAK JBPM URGES PUBLIC TO REFRAIN FROM OPEN BURNING

IPOH, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- The public is urged to refrain from open burning, particularly in farms and plantations, as the ongoing hot and dry spell increases the risk of fires spreading rapidly.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Datuk Sayani Saidon said that waste dumping sites were also considered high-risk due to their large size, limited monitoring, and the tendency of some individuals to set fires while searching for recyclables.

“This situation is very worrying if it cannot be controlled. Open burning cases usually involve lalang (tall grass) covering up to two acres (0.8 hectares), but recent cases have affected areas as large as five acres (two hectares),” she told a press conference after the 2026 Annual Parade at the State JBPM headquarters in Meru Raya today.

Meanwhile, Sayani said that the Perak JBPM had recorded an average of 60 emergency calls per day amid the ongoing hot and dry conditions.

She said that of the total, about 40 per cent of the calls were linked to open burning, particularly in farms and waste dumping sites.

Sayani said that fire hotspots were usually found in open areas and plantations, particularly when individuals set fires to clear land.

“When a fire occurs at a landfill, putting it out completely can take a long time due to the size of the area, its remoteness, and the lack of open water, which prolongs the extinguishing process and increases both risk and pollution,” she said.

In the meantime, Sayani said that the Perak JBPM had managed to save RM351.97 million worth of property from fires last year, compared with RM274.5 million in 2024.

--BERNAMA