DUNGUN: Firefighters are concentrating on buffer zones between a forest reserve and residential areas to control a peat swamp forest fire covering 20 hectares near Kampung Rhu Batil, Kuala Abang.
Dungun Fire and Rescue station chief Yahaya Hanafi said the strategy was taken to prevent the fire, which started last Saturday, from spreading to nearby areas.
"So far, 11 hectares of the total affected area have been successfully extinguished," he told reporters when met at the scene on Saturday (April 18).
He said 26 personnel members, including members of the Malaysia Volunteers Corps Department (RELA) and the Civil Defence Force (APM), were involved in the operation.
Yahaya said efforts to extinguish the fire were hindered by limited access and insufficient water sources at the site.
"Our personnel also had to dig a well at the site to secure an adequate water supply.
"The current hot and dry weather has also caused the fire to spread rapidly across the area," he said.
Yahaya said the operation is expected to continue for another week because peat swamp fires are difficult to fully extinguish due to underground embers.
The fire is believed to have started from uncontrolled open burning near the forest.- Bernama
