KOTA BARU: A surge in open burning incidents across Kelantan since early March has significantly increased the state Fire and Rescue Department's operating costs, with its diesel bill alone soaring to RM217,000 in April.
Kelantan Fire and Rescue director Farhan Sufyan Borhan said the department normally spends between RM45,000 and RM60,000 a month on fuel, but the amount rose sharply as firefighters responded to a growing number of open fires during the current dry spell.
"In March, our diesel bill increased to RM120,000 and in April it reached RM217,000. The increase reflects the sharp rise in open burning cases throughout the state," he told Bernama recently.
Farhan said the department received more than 2,000 emergency calls involving open fires in April alone, compared with only 199 cases recorded for the whole of last year.
Bush fires accounted for the largest share at 1,575 cases, followed by forest fires (238), rubbish fires (99) and plantation fires (37).
He said most of the incidents were believed to have started from land-clearing and agricultural burning that spread beyond the intended areas.
"Based on our observations and operational experience, most of these fires are caused by human activity rather than natural factors," he said.
Kota Baru recorded the highest number of cases at 522, followed by Bachok (357) and Pasir Mas (252).
Farhan said fires involving peatland and landfill sites were among the most challenging, as they can burn underground for days and require large amounts of water and asset.
"We once took up to 10 days to extinguish a peat fire and eight days to put out a landfill fire in Tanah Merah involving an area of 16ha," he said.
Such incidents often require additional personnel and equipment from other stations, while difficult terrain and limited water sources further complicate operations, particularly in Bachok and Kota Baru, where hoses sometimes have to be laid over distances of up to two kilometres.
Farhan said the rising costs were particularly frustrating because the funds could have been used to upgrade assets and strengthen the department's capabilities.
"Because of human negligence, we are forced to spend a substantial portion of our allocation on extinguishing open fires," he said.
He said the department hopes enforcement will be intensified, including issuing compounds to those responsible for open burning, as awareness campaigns alone no longer appear sufficient.
Farhan added that the department is working closely with the Department of Environment, local authorities and the Royal Malaysia Police to curb open burning in the state. - Bernama
