Dreaded haze looms if peat fires rage on in Sabah

By Catherine Ong KOTA KINABALU - Peat fires in Beaufort and Kuala Penyu are threatening to cause hazy conditions if fire fighters don't succeed in putting them out quickly. The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department headquarters (FRD) has formed a special team comprising 20 firemen, expert in tackling peat fires and the group is on standby to assist their counterparts in Beaufort if the peat fires there go out of control. But fighting peat fires are not easy. This is because the fire is usually underground, and the searing heat generated, scorches the land above, and as a result burns whatever growth is on the surface. Already several hectares of forest including plantation land at the Binsuluk Forest Reserve and a plantation in Nukahan, Kuala Penyu, have been destroyed since the peat fires first started at the beginning of the month. The hot and dry weather has not helped, though fire fighters succeeded in putting out the blaze at Binsuluk and are now concentrating at Nukahan. The FRD would also use a helicopter to put off the blaze if the need arises in the case of fresh outbreak of such fires in remote areas that are inaccessible by road or boat, public relations officer Ibnu Suhud said yesterday. He noted that since the outbreak of peat fires in Beaufort about a week ago, they decided to get a team organised, men that are trained to fight fire including peat fires. "We can deploy them at a moment's notice if the situation worsens. We would also use a helicopter to put off peat fires in remote areas which cannot be reached by other means of transport," said Ibnu. He said firemen assigned to monitor peat fires in Beaufort and Kuala Penyu have been directed to set up makeshift tents near the affected areas to closely monitor the fire. Ibnu said they have prepared all fire equipment for immediate despatch to the affected areas. "Additional equipment like rescue boats, water pumps and jet shooters are ready to be sent to the affected areas," he added. According to him, the message has been sent to their counterparts in other districts to be ready for action if there are peat fires in the areas. "The Keningau and Tawau zones have been directed to be on the alert and they have set up operation rooms to monitor any outbreak of fires in their district," said Ibnu. He reminded villagers in the affected areas not to be alarmed, adding that the present situation is under control and all fire operation rooms at the respective districts have been put on standby to face any eventuality. He advised villagers and farmers to immediately stop land clearing activities and open burning to avoid fresh outbreak of peat fires especially during the present dry season. "At the same time, we would like to advise motorists from discarding their cigarette butts into the grass that would spark bush fires and wildfires, if they are not controlled," he said. According to him, the firefighters are not facing any problem at the moment and there is plenty of water from the brooks and streams near the scene.

 

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