KOTA TINGGI: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department has conducted 21 water-bombing sorties and dropped 33,000 litres of water to extinguish a peatland fire spanning nearly 100ha at Jalan Sungai Kapal, Taman Bayu Damai in Pengerang.
Its air division operations management branch head Mohd Ruzaidi Ramlee said the first phase of the operation on Wednesday (Jan 28) commenced at 12.30 pm, involving a total flight time of one hour and 42 minutes.
"The helicopter's firefighting efforts were focused on Sectors D and E, which are the central areas of the fire that are difficult for ground personnel to access," he said on Wednesday.
He added that the operation faced challenges due to the proximity of residential areas and strong sea winds, which increased flight safety risks.
Mohd Ruzaidi added that another flight is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, with an expected 40 water bombing sorties involving an additional 50,000 litres of water.
The helicopter used in the operation is equipped with a "Bambi bucket" capable of carrying 1,590 litres.
As of noon Wednesday, 54.8% of the 99.55ha affected area has been extinguished. The deployment of air assets is expected to accelerate suppression efforts, particularly in the inaccessible peat core.
An aerial survey revealed that several residential areas remain blanketed in thick smoke, with visible fire damage at multiple locations. Ground crews continue to work around the clock to contain the perimeter.
The fire has severely impacted local residents, with the resulting haze causing breathing difficulties and reduced visibility.
A total of 153 people from 50 families have been evacuated to two relief centres at the Taman Bayu Damai Multipurpose Hall and Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Kapal.
On Tuesday, operations in Sector B focused on fire suppression using 152.4m hose reels, assisted by breaching and nozzles, alongside the construction of fire breaks to prevent further spread.
Meanwhile, in Sector A, firefighters and Civil Defence Force personnel were divided into two groups to tackle the blaze behind the residential area using fire engines, portable pumps, and water sourced from nearby hydrants. – Bernama
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