Helicopter used to put out wildfires

Aerial help: A helicopter flying over the wildfires in Kuala Baram.

MIRI: A helicopter is being used to put out wildfires that are raging in forested areas the size of at least 100 football fields combined (40.46ha) in the Kuala Baram district in northern Sarawak.

The Fire and Rescue Department Miri started aerial water bombing using a helicopter to try to douse the flames.

Sarawak Assistant Minister for Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin visited the site of the fires and ordered immediate integrated approach among the various agencies and private companies to tackle the fires.

He said efforts were being taken to pump ground water to raise the underground water table to prevent the fires from burning into the ground in peat-forest areas.

“Investigations are underway to determine how the fires started,” he said.

At least 82 fire fighters and volunteers, and workers of Naim Cendera, the company that owned the land, are battling to stop the fire from spreading, he added.