Villagers and jungle guides join firemen in fighting flames at forest reserve

ALOR SETAR: Some 0.5ha of the Gunung Pulai forest reserve has been razed in a fire.

About 100 firemen, civil defence department personnel, jungle guides and villagers have been trying to bring the blaze under control since 11am yesterday.

Fire and rescue department officer Supt Umrani Che Mat said the fire started about 450m above sea level and his men had to hike up to the site with guides’ help.

“We are manually fighting the blaze with ‘fire beaters’ and 10 ‘jet shutters’. A helicopter was also deployed to look out for more fire spots.

“Small fires were also spotted near Gua Kelambu and Gua Layang,” he said when met yesterday.

Supt Umrani added that the firemen were instructed to ‘stand down’ at 7pm. They will continue to fight the fire at first light.

“We have yet to determine the cause of the fire. We were alerted about the fire by villagers at 7.43am.

“Other than firemen from Baling, Kulim, Tikam Batu and Kulim Hi-Tech Park, we were assisted by our multi-skilled team and the volunteer fire squads,” he said.