GEORGE TOWN: The 8ha bushfire along Penang island’s hill range could not have been caused by existing work on the cable car project as the alignment of the cable car is at least 500m from the site of the fire.
“We wish to allay public worry that the fire was due to the project,” said Penang Hill Corporation general manager Datuk LL Cheok here yesterday.
He said the nearest cable car tower site to one edge of the fire was several hundred metres.
However, the location of the fire was between two hiker stations along the range: Stations 46 and 84.
“Over the years, we received complaints from the public about some people boiling water for coffee or even cooking instant noodles while they are on the hill. That must stop,” Cheok stressed.
He said the start of every year would bring the dry season to the entire northern region and fire risk in the woods will be high.
“We agree with the findings of the Fire and Rescue Services Department that this bushfire might have been due to human activity, so we ask everyone to be extra vigilant,” Cheok said.
Penang Fire and Rescue Department director Mohamad Shoki Hamzah said the bushfire, which covered land equal to about 10 football fields, was the first of its size on Penang Hill’s forest reserve.
“Discarded cigarette butts, glass objects that can reflect sunlight and other careless actions during dry and windy conditions are among the possible contributing factors being examined,” he said on Thursday.
Due to the steep terrain and limited water supply, firefighters had to manually transport water uphill using PVC tanks on four-wheel drives.
The fire, reported at about 6.30pm Wednesday, was put out by 11pm.
