IPOH: The people need to be mindful of starting an open fire during the current hot weather, says Datuk Sayani Saidon.
The Perak Fire and Rescue Department director said with less rain in the past few weeks, people should be alert at all times.
“Those who smoke should not throw their cigarette butts around.
“Parents should also keep an eye on their children to stop them from playing with fire,” she said at a press conference after the department’s annual gathering at Meru Raya here yesterday.
Some parts of Perak are experiencing prolonged dry weather, with water levels at some of the dams in the northern region of the state having receded.
The department, meanwhile, receives an average of 50 calls a day related to open burning.
“These incidents occur in open areas, bushes, farms and estates. The hot weather can cause fire to spread quickly,” she said, adding that landfills are also at risk of fire.
“There have been cases in other states but not in Perak so far.
“Sometimes, people trying to find waste items that can be sold can cause such fires,” she said, adding that a lack of supervision from those in charge of the landfill would also make it worse.
“If a fire does occur at these locations, it could take a long time to put out because of the vast area and distance.
“There may also be no nearby water sources to use in fighting the fire, because a large amount is needed.
“Prolonged fires can cause air pollution and incur huge costs,” she added.
Separately, Sayani lauded the role of volunteer fire brigades.
“They’ve helped a lot when it comes to response time, especially if some locations are far from our stations.
“Our response time is about 10 minutes, and every minute counts when trying to keep damage to property to a minimum,” she said.
