Cemetery fire possibly caused by hot, dry weather

Bush fire: The fire spreading past gravestones at the cemetery in Batu Lanchang.

GEORGE TOWN: The scorching heat and nominal rainfall possibly caused a section of a cemetery here to catch fire.

Sirens from vehicles belonging to the Fire and Rescue Department were heard making their way to the Batu Lanchang cemetery to put out a bush fire yesterday.

A department representative said dry grass at the cemetery grounds had caught fire.

“We received a call about the fire; it was a small one. We believe it was caused by the dry weather,” the representative added.

State environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh hoped that the fire was not due to any mischief.

Bush fire: The fire spreading past gravestones at the cemetery in Batu Lanchang.

“I hope the cemetery operators will take charge of the place and make sure there are no open fires by those trying to get copper or wires.

“Or when people preparing for Qing Ming burn the overgrown grass there.

“They feel the most cost-effective way is to burn the grass, which is not allowed as they are supposed to hire someone to cut the overgrown grass.

“My officers are on high alert and will check if that is the case,” he added.

Phee, however, said the dry weather could be the cause of such fires.

“We have to accept that it could be the case here. We will not compromise on open burning as people need to understand the climate is changing; even a bit of fire can cause danger to others. Open burning is not allowed,” he stressed.

This is not the first time the cemetery has caught fire, as a similar incident happened last year during the dry spell as well.

Last year, in the corresponding duration, Penang was hit with numerous fires including a peat fire at a landfill that caused evacuation and closure of schools.

With the hot and dry spell making a return, the three northern states are now experiencing scorching heat as high as 32°C.

The Star reported that Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said the current hot and dry spell, especially in the northern parts of the peninsula, was not due to El Nino.

“It is the normal La Nina hot weather, which happens in February and March.

“This situation occurs because at this point, the position of the low-pressure area is away from the north of the peninsula, causing moisture to be more concentrated in the south of the peninsula, Sarawak and Sabah.

“Therefore, it is normal for the surface temperature to rise when it does not rain for several days in an area,” he said.

La Nina refers to the periodic cooling of sea-surface temperatures across the east-central equatorial Pacific, while El Nino refers to the above-average sea-surface temperatures that periodically develop across the east-central equatorial Pacific.

It represents the warm phase of the Enso (El Nino-Southern Oscillation) cycle.