A constant battle: Firemen from the Muar fire station carrying out operations to douse bush fires at night along Jalan Batu 6 in the district, where the number of calls to handle such cases have increased in the past two weeks.
JOHOR BARU: The unpredictable and extreme weather in some parts of the country is not only causing more bush fires, but also drowning.
To cool down during the extreme heat, victims go for a dip in rivers and other water bodies but end up drowning instead.
Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad says there have been an average of 10,000 incident calls including bush fires, drowning and other rescue operations each month this year.
In July alone, there were 2,000 bush and forest fires while the average of drowning cases each month is about 20.
ALSO READ: INTERACTIVE: Why so many of our kids are drowning and what can be done
“Between January and Aug 7, the department received a total of 73,604 incident calls nationwide.
“On July 27, we handled 403 incidents with the majority being bush and forest fires,” he said, adding that most of the cases this year happened in Selangor, Johor, Perak and Sabah.
Nor Hisham said the department is continuously monitoring 845 fire hotspots in 95 districts nationwide.
“So far, there are no active forest fires nationwide, but to date, my men have put out fires at about 11,501 hectares of forest and bushes nationwide,” he said.
ALSO READ: July officially hottest since records began
The most, he said, are in Sabah, comprising forests of 6,895ha followed by Pahang (3,107ha), Kelantan (452ha), Johor (336ha) and Terengganu (335ha),” he told The Star.
“The biggest challenge faced by my men during a prolonged dry season is fires located deep in the forest with inadequate water sources to extinguish them,” he added.
Nor Hisham said department helicopters were monitoring hotspots and carrying out water bombing to douse fires.
He reminded smokers not to throw cigarette butts indiscriminately and warned others against open burning.
ALSO READ: Experts: Take measures against hot, dry weather
On drowning cases, he said to date, 162 people, including 19 women, have drowned.
“Most of the victims are below 40 years old. It is sad that so many young people have drowned this year,” he said, adding that most cases occurred in rivers, tributaries, beaches and mining areas.
He urged parents to always keep tabs on the whereabouts of their children, especially when they go on outings with friends.
ALSO READ: Feeling the heat
In the latest bush fire in Muar, 12 firemen were called in to put out fires at a cemetery along Batu 6 two days ago.
Muar fire station chief Shahrizal Mohtar said they also attended to bush fires at night due to the current dry season.
“We got a call about the fire from the police.
“We hope people do not set fires or throw cigarette butts indiscriminately,” he said, adding that the calls on bush and forest fires have gone up in the past two weeks in Muar.
