Number has tripled due to dry spell, says D-G

PETALING JAYA: The number of forest and bushfires nationwide has tripled due to the current dry spell.

Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said the country recorded an average of 300 forest fires daily compared to 100 on normal days.

“The states with the most number of cases are Selangor, Johor and Perak,” he said yesterday.

According to Wan Mohd Nor, another contributing factor to forest fires was open burning by irresponsible people.

“An open burning can spread like wildfire if it is allowed to continue.

“In the current dry weather, small fires, whether to burn rubbish or other items, can easily become larger and lead to forest fires,” he said.

Wan Mohd Nor also cautioned smokers against flicking cigarette butts in areas that could cause accidental fires.

“More than 13,000 department personnel are on stand-by in case the situation worsens,” he said.

In PUTRAJAYA, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom urged mosques and surau to organise a solat hajat (special prayer) for the current dry spell to end.

He said they could organise the prayer after Friday prayers tomorrow. As for surau, the prayer could be organised at its committees’ convenience, he said.

Meanwhile, rainfall in several areas in the Klang Valley yesterday provided some respite for the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Depart­ment’s battle against bushfires.

Deputy director Azizan Ismail said the rain had made their job easier in battling a spate of bushfires around Bukit Jalil area.

The department has faced a series of bushfires since early this week due to the hot weather.