BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) has recorded a significant increase in forest and bush fire incidents between Saturday (April 25) and Sunday (April 26) believed to be caused by the extreme hot weather conditions currently affecting the country.
From January to April 26, a total of 125 forest fires and 81 bush fires have been recorded, resulting in a total of 415.548 hectares of land damaged.
For the month of April alone, the department has responded to 88 forest fires and 47 bush fires.
On April 25, the department received seven emergency calls involving an estimated affected area of 30.6 hectares.
The largest blaze was recorded near Universiti Teknologi Brunei, covering approximately 28 hectares.
The following day, the number of calls rose to 12 cases with an estimated affected area of 37.4 hectares. The RPN Kampong Rimba area recorded the largest fire coverage on April 26, spanning around 20 hectares.
In response to the Rimba fire, water bombing assistance was deployed from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) through the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to nearby residential areas.
The FRD stated it views the increase in fires seriously and has continuously deployed personnel and equipment to control outbreaks while ensuring public safety.
As part of proactive measures, the department has intensified regular patrols in high-risk hotspot areas, including forested and agricultural land, to enable early detection and swift response.
The public is advised to refrain from open burning and to ensure surrounding areas are kept free from flammable materials such as dry grass and rubbish.
Fire incidents should be reported immediately to the emergency hotline 995.
The FRD continues to work closely with relevant agencies, including the Royal Brunei Air Force, Public Works Department, Forestry Department, NDMC, and the Royal Brunei Police Force, to strengthen integrated fire suppression operations.
Public cooperation and awareness are essential to prevent further incidents during the current hot and dry conditions. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
