Dungun firemen fighting peat fires spray water on forest

DUNGUN: The Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department has resorted to spraying water on forests bordering the peat fires in Kampung Tok Kah here to prevent the blaze from spreading to a populated area about 200 metres away.

 "Prior to this we were spraying water directly at the area on fire but the dry weather and frequent change in wind directions caused the blaze to spread to larger areas.

 "So far we feel this is the best method to prevent the fires from spreading," operations commander Nor Azizi Che Noh said at the scene of the fire, adding that on the 21st day of the operation Saturday they had put out 371 hectares of forest fires.

He said their efforts were hampered by the easily combustible nature of peat land, lack of water source and access.

 "We're still working round the clock to put out another 40 hectares ablaze which has spread to several abandoned oil palm plantations," he said.

He added that 58 firefighters were mobilised from around the state, assisted by 10 members of the Civil Defence Department. - Bernama