GEORGE TOWN: Firefighters are still at the Penang Hill jeep track on Thursday (Feb 5) carrying out overhaul and monitoring operations after successfully bringing a forest fire under control at 11pm on Wednesday (Feb 4).
Penang Fire and Rescue Department director Mohamad Shoki Hamzah said the blaze, which broke out at about 6.30pm, was tackled by dividing personnel into several operational sectors to address all the affected areas swiftly.
"Alhamdulillah, by around 11pm, the fire was successfully brought under control and prevented from spreading to other areas," he said here on Thursday (Feb 5).
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He added that firemen remained on-site this morning over concerns about possible reignition, as residual embers could trigger subsequent fires if not fully extinguished.
"We are conducting overhaul and monitoring works to ensure there are no remaining hotspots, while identifying contributing factors to prevent similar incidents from occurring," he said.
Monitoring will also be carried out in the surrounding areas of Bukit Bendera, covering both the north-east and south-west, as the current dry season has heightened the risk of forest fires, he added.
Shoki said overhaul works found the affected area to be relatively limited, about 50sq m, mainly in elevated sections of the hill near the jeep track.
It was reported that some 8ha of fern and grass area along the jeep track caught fire yesterday.
A total of 67 personnel were involved in the operation comprising members from various agencies, including the police, Forestry Department, Civil Defence Force, volunteer fire brigades and others.
