GEORGE TOWN: The Fire and Rescue Department is conducting operations to extinguish a forest fire covering an area of 1.21ha on a hill behind Surin Residence, Solok Tanjung Bungah, here Saturday (March 7).
Penang Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director John Sagun Francis said his team received an emergency call at 3.59pm regarding the fire before a firefighting team from the Bagan Jermal Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) was dispatched to the scene.
"The fire involves a forest area on a hill estimated to cover 1.21ha and located about 2km from the foot of the hill, but the fire location does not have vehicle access.
"The fire department had to hike to the fire location while carrying firefighting equipment to conduct the operation," he said in a statement Saturday night.
He said the firefighting operation was divided into two sectors namely using the "fire beater" method in addition to constructing a "fire break" to prevent the fire from spreading to a larger area, and by 7.12pm, the fire was successfully brought under control.
He added that until 8.30pm, no casualties had been reported, and that the control and extinguishing operations are still ongoing, with the fire department's drone unit also on standby to assist with aerial monitoring of the fire if needed. - Bernama
