MUKAH: Firefighting efforts to contain a forest fire near Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Mukah have been intensified, with operations now prioritising the area surrounding the town’s airport, which has been temporarily closed due to thick haze and proximity to the flames.
The fire, which is in its sixth day, is affecting 8ha of forest.
Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department director Jamri Masran said two major hotspots are being targeted - the forested zone near an oil palm plantation and the area close to the airport.
“Right now, our priority is to contain the fire around the airport. The flames and smoke have reached dangerously close to airport facilities and pose a serious threat,” Jamri said during an update on the situation to The Star on Wednesday (July 30).
He added that the Bomba air unit would be carrying out water bombing over the affected airport zone, while ground crews work simultaneously sped up fire suppression efforts.
“If we can bring the airport fire under control, our operations in the coming days will shift focus to the plantation area,” he said.
A total of 13 Royal Malaysian Air Force personnel stationed in Miri have been deployed to support aerial operations. On the ground, around 50 personnel — including Bomba officers, members of aid agencies, local field workers, and villagers — are involved in the containment efforts.
Jamri acknowledged that it is still difficult to predict when the situation will be fully resolved due to unpredictable wind patterns and dry weather conditions.
“What makes this fire especially difficult to manage is the terrain. The affected areas are dense forests sitting on muddy ground, which makes access extremely challenging. The forest itself serves as fuel, accelerating the spread of the fire,” he explained.
The department is also facing limited access to water sources. To overcome this, an excavator has been deployed for outdoor dredging, and water is being drawn from the airport’s facilities.
Additionally, UiTM Mukah has stepped in to assist by providing access to five ponds as supplementary water sources for water bombing.
“To improve firefighting on the ground, we’ve also dug holes every 30m. These are expected to collect water by tomorrow, which will help us continue our suppression work,” he added.
Jamri also noted that nearby padi fields are small and unable to supply sufficient water for firefighting needs.
The fire, which began last Friday (July 25), remains smouldering in parts and continues to pose a risk of spreading if not contained soon.
