Firemen still battling blaze on Gunung Laba, use helicopter for water bombing

Fire and Rescue team during an operation water bombing by aircraft MI 171 at Pansung Forest Reserve in Binsuluk, Beaufort yesterday. (April 2)

IPOH (Bernama): Firefighting operations were still being carried out Friday (March 8) in the 16.19ha of hill forest in Gunung Laba near Kampung Air Ganda, Gerik, about 140km from here.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department senior assistant Fire Supt Zamri Awang Long said the operation today used the water bombing method from 9am to 6pm using a MI-17 helicopter belonging to the department.

The operation involved machinery from the Gerik Fire and Rescue Station with 14 personnel and assistance from two firemen each from Pengkalan Hulu and Taiping and 12 employees of the Forestry Department.

“The fire yesterday, involving Bukit Laba and Gunung Tujuh, occurred near the Orang Asli settlement in Kampung Sungai Papan, which is about 1.5km from the fire, but no villagers have been evacuated,” he said when contacted by Bernama Friday.

According to a Gerik Fire and Rescue Station spokesman, the fire had reduced following the rain last night.

“However, the latest information is still unavailable as personnel involved in the operation have yet to be contacted,” he said at press time.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Zamri said firefighters battling a fire, for the fourth day running, in the Gunung Korbu Forest Reserve in Sungai Siput have managed to completely put it out.

He said 30 firefighters were involved in dowsing the blaze between Pos Legap and Pos Mu, aided by 19 personnel from the Sungai Siput Forest Office and the police. - Bernama