PETALING JAYA: What began as a desperate attempt by firefighters to overcome a shortage of equipment for tackling peat fires has evolved into an award-winning Malaysian invention.
The device showcases the ingenuity of frontline personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, who developed equipment to address operational challenges and meet local needs without the high cost of specialised firefighting technology.
Developed in 2009 by personnel from the Kluang fire station, the forest and peat fire suppression device has since evolved through three versions, earning local and international recognition.
Fire and Rescue Academy of Malaysia (Eastern Region) commandant Dr Ahmad Faiz Tharima @ Zainuddin, one of the inventors, said the idea arose from the challenges firefighters faced when battling peat fires, which can burn up to 3m underground and produce thick smoke.
He said the prototype, known as the GS Mark I, was subsequently upgraded to the GS Mark II and GS Mark III, with prize money won at an international competition used to fund further development.
Unlike conventional fire lances or peat injector nozzles, which are designed primarily to tackle underground peat fires, the GS Mark III can suppress both surface and underground fires, Ahmad Faiz said.
He added that the device can also be deployed at multiple locations to flood large areas continuously and contain the spread of fire.
The GS Mark III is suitable for forest, peatland and landfill fires, offering a relatively low-cost option for tackling blazes that can be difficult to extinguish using conventional methods, he said.
Explaining how the device works, Ahmad Faiz said it combines an above-ground sprinkler with an underground section inserted into the peat soil.
“Water supplied by a portable pump is sprayed over surface flames and surrounding vegetation, while outlets in the buried section discharge water directly into the peat to suppress smouldering beneath the ground.
“Firefighters can operate either section independently or use both simultaneously, depending on conditions,” he said.
He added that multiple devices could also be connected to a delivery hose and positioned at different points, allowing firefighters to tackle several hotspots while flooding an area to contain the fire.
Ahmad Faiz said the design addresses a major challenge in fighting peat fires, as underground combustion can persist even after visible flames have been extinguished.
He said the Fire and Rescue Department currently operates 10 units, while the Pahang and Selangor forestry departments have 10 units each.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Faiz said no peat fires had been reported in the country at the time of the interview.
He said the most recent reported incident was at an orchard in Sungai Besar in Sabak Bernam, Selangor, early last month.
