Miri fire department using excavators to snuff out peat fires

MIRI: Bomba Miri are using excavators to dig up smouldering remains of underground peat fires in Kuala Baram district in order to snuff them out.

The use of these heavy duty machines and aerial water-bombing by the Bomba Miri air unit and ground firefighters have managed to tackle the forest fires in Kuala Baram district, said Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief Supt Law Poh Kiong.

The fires had burned more than 40 hectares of land since Friday (Aug 17).

"The excavators will ensure we snuff out the smouldering remains. The surface fires are all doused already," Supt Law said.

The air quality has improved by vastly this morning in Kuala Baram and Miri districts.