Hot spell triggers fire at Broga Hill

KAJANG: More than 2ha of forests at Broga Hill here went up in smoke after the dry spell triggered a fire.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Wan Md Razali Wan Ismail said they received a distress call at 7.39pm on Sunday before a team of firefighters was deployed to the scene.

He said the firemen managed to extinguish the blaze at about 2.30am yesterday, and the operation ended at 3.30am.

“A total of 28 officers and personnel from three fire stations were involved in the operation.

“The fire razed over 2ha at the peak of Broga Hill before spreading to other parts due to the wind,” he said in a statement.

Wan Md Razali said the operation was challenging given the hilly terrain.

“The firemen took about 30 to 45 minutes to climb to the peak of the hill as the affected area was not accessible to vehicles.

“Despite the challenge, the firemen were determined to get there to prevent the situation from worsening,” he said.

As there was no source of water on the hilltop, Wan Md Razali said the firemen had to use the fire beater method to put out the blaze.

“Our focus was to prevent the fire from spreading further as well as fully extinguishing it,” he said.

Hulu Langat MP Sany Hamzan was at the scene to observe the fire-fighting operation.

Earlier, videos of the fire at Broga Hill went viral on social media.

Besides Broga Hill, there was also a report of bush fires in Bandar Tasik Puteri in Batu Arang on Sunday.

The fire involved a 0.8ha area and firemen from the Batu Arang fire station were deployed there.