Firemen working round-the-clock at illegal dumpsite

KLANG: As if fighting fires in this unforgiving weather is not bad enough, firemen here are working round-the-clock to battle blazes set off by irresponsible individuals at an illegal dumping site as big as eight football fields.

The stench of burning trash and smoke coming from piles of rubbish reaching 9m-high is what Sg Pinang fire station chief Zaidi Aatan and his team are facing daily at Jalan Bukit Kapar, which is near a quarry area here.

The operations began last Saturday with help from other state authorities.

Zaidi’s team, with the help of officers from the Klang Municipal Council, the Klang District Land Office and firemen deployed from the Andalas, Port Klang, Sg Pinang and Kota Raja fire stations have been working to control the situation.

A total of 45 firemen and officers are stationed there during the day while at night, there are 25 of them dousing the smoke from the rubbish piling up here for over two years.

Zaidi said unscrupulous people have been burning several spots at the site to look for scrap metal, with the fires escalating due to the weather.

Zaidi said the operations are divided into two sectors, with each sector as big as four football fields.

Hellish conditions: Firemen working to put out the fires amid toxic fumes from burning trash at the dumpsite along Jalan Kapar in Klang.

“The fire has been going on for almost one week, which is why we are working round the clock to put it out.

“We took three days to put out the fire in sector one and we are aiming to clear sector two by this Friday,” Zaidi told The Star.

He said the smoke and toxic fumes from the fire are harmful to anyone nearby, especially his team.

The team also has to deal with a lack of water source, and have had to resort to using tankers.

“We have three tankers on standby.

“Each tanker can hold up to 20,000 litres of water so we go back and forth to get water from a housing estate, which is about 5km away,” said Zaidi.

Each day, the team needs at least 15 tankers.

Veteran fireman A. Selvarajoo, who has 35 years of service, said the stench was difficult to handle.

“I have experienced putting out many fire but this is difficult because of the smell and the smoke is rather toxic. The water supply is also difficult.”

“It is a tough job but we have to do it,” said the 59-year old.

Helmi Ismail, 26, fears getting buried inside the pile of rubbish.

“I am new to this operation so it is difficult but thanks to the support and advice from my seniors, I can do it,” said Helmi who only joined the Fire and Rescue Department a year ago.

Both are hoping people will be more responsible and not start open fires anywhere.