By Muhammad Afiq Mohd Asri
KOTA BHARU, May 18 (Bernama) -- Waste fires should not be viewed as ordinary fire incidents as they pose health hazards and can even cost lives, making fire suppression efforts particularly demanding for the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).
Such fires often smoulder underneath piles of tyres and discarded plastics, producing thick smoke that remains a persistent threat to emergency responders and nearby residents.
When toxic waste is involved, the dangers multiply as the resulting smoke can cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting and long-term health effects.
Kelantan JBPM director Farhan Sufyan Borhan described waste fires as a systemic issue involving various types of waste, each managed by different agencies, such as the Department of Environment, Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation and local authorities.
“The four main categories are sewage, solid waste (domestic and scheduled waste), radioactive waste and chemical waste. JBPM steps in when a fire breaks out and lives are at risk, but before and after that, other agencies must play their role,” he told Bernama recently.
Under the National Security Council Directive No. 20, JBPM is the lead agency for handling disasters involving chemical, radiological, nuclear, and hazardous materials, while AELB provides technical expertise for radiological and nuclear emergencies.
Farhan Sufyan said that according to Kelantan JBPM statistics, 207 out of 1,827 open burning cases recorded last year involved waste collection sites, which pose significant risks when unfiltered waste is allowed to accumulate.
“We’re talking about smouldering fire or slow-burning fires under piles of rubbish. These are not easily visible but can spread without warning, and that’s the real danger,” he said.
Extinguishing such fires is no simple task, he added, as it requires dismantling the waste piles using heavy machinery such as excavators and large volumes of water.
“Sometimes, a relay pumping operation from a nearby river is our only option. But JBPM doesn’t own heavy machinery, so we have to rely on help from other agencies,” he explained.
Farhan Sufyan said that under JBPM’s standard operating procedures, the department assumes full responsibility for suppression operations during the first 48 hours. After that, control is handed over to local authorities or appointed agents.
“If fires continue beyond that period, further assistance from JBPM will be chargeable, unless the incident poses a danger to public safety.
“Many people are unaware that JBPM is not a free service. There are limits and legal structures. However, when lives are at stake, our team responds without hesitation,” he said.
He added that the Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Unit would be deployed if the fire involved toxic or hazardous substances.
“Waste fires are not just about flames. They’re about smoke and the toxins they carry. If the situation is too hazardous, we bring in the Hazmat team.
“In Kelantan, a Hazmat unit is ready and will be mobilised if on-site assessments indicate elevated risk levels,” he said.
Farhan Sufyan also recalled the 2019 Pasir Gudang incident in Johor, where the illegal dumping of chemical waste into Sungai Kim Kim released toxic fumes, affecting thousands of victims and forcing nearby schools to shut down.
“That incident is a clear reminder of the critical need for effective waste management and emergency preparedness to go hand in hand,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
