TATAU: Firefighters are intensifying efforts to contain a bush fire in Kuala Tatau Serupai, where several hectares of peatland are burning.
The State Fire and Rescue Department received a distress call at 4.03pm on Monday (March 23) and has been working around the clock since. On the fourth day of operations on Thursday (March 26), firefighters resumed work at 8.43am, focusing on peat fires in the affected area.
They said about five hectares have been burned, with the fire spreading towards nearby gardens, but roughly three hectares have already been extinguished. The fire is located far from residential areas and in difficult terrain, complicating ground efforts and access to water sources.
To support the operation, the Miri Fire Brigade Air Unit was deployed and arrived at 10.51am. By 12.12pm, a Mi-171 helicopter had completed 15 water-bombing runs on several hotspots, with aerial operations still underway.
Eleven firefighters are involved in ground operations, supported by a Light Fire Rescue Tender, a Triton and a Land Rover. The air unit comprises 14 personnel and one helicopter, and efforts to fully extinguish the fire and prevent further spread are continuing.
