KOTA TINGGI: MI-17 helicopters belonging to the Air Unit of the Fire and Rescue Department from Subang Jaya have intensified water bombing operations to extinguish a peatland fire at Jalan Sungai Kapal, Taman Bayu Damai here, with primary focus on the central area, which accounts for about 30& of the total 99.54-hectare fire-affected area.
Johor Fire and Rescue Department Deputy Director Assistant Commissioner of Fire Muhammad Al Mustakim Abdul Hady said the aerial operation prioritises areas inaccessible to ground teams due to distance and the lack of water sources.
"The helicopters' focus is on the central area, which is difficult to access. This operation is expected to help accelerate fire control in the affected sector," he told reporters when met at the Fire Control Centre at Jalan Langkah Baik 3 here on Wednesday (Jan 28).
He said the MI-17 helicopters can carry up to 1,340 litres of water per flight, with the water released over fire locations identified by the operations team.
According to him, as of noon on Wednesday, about 54.8% of the affected area has been successfully extinguished, and the deployment of aerial assets was expected to further increase the extinguishing rate, particularly in the central area.
"Besides extinguishing the fire, water bombing also helps to reduce smoke through water vapour, thereby minimising the impact on nearby residents. This is among the main objectives of the aerial operation," he said.
He said both aerial and ground operations are being carried out simultaneously through a top-down and bottom-up attack approach, in addition to the construction of fire breaks and flooding in several sectors to prevent the fire from spreading.
He noted that the fire area has now been divided into nine sectors, with several fully extinguished and others close to being brought under control.
Mustakim said helicopter operations are expected to continue until this Friday, subject to current needs and on-site developments.
In a related development, as of noon, a total of 153 residents from 50 families in Taman Bayu Damai have been placed at two temporary evacuation centres, which were activated following the ongoing fire since last Friday.
The operation has also received cooperation from external agencies, including the police, the Civil Defence Force, the Pengerang Municipal Council, the Irrigation and Drainage Department, the Public Works Department and the Environment Department.
The rapid rate of fire spread was attributed to dry, windy weather, which caused thick smoke to spread into residential areas around Taman Bayu Damai, compounded by limited water sources and difficult access to the fire location.
A Bernama check at the site found that firefighting operations using helicopters were still ongoing as of 1pm on Wednesday, with haze conditions around residential areas along Jalan Langkah Baik 3, Taman Bayu Damai showing improvement compared with Tuesday. – Bernama
