MIRI: Most forest fires here as well as in Lopeng and Kuala Baram involve peat soil, which makes them very hard to control.
Lopeng Fire Station chief Supt Eddy Zulkifli Abdullah said the fire can burn deep in the ground and slowly spread to bigger areas.
“All the peat soil forest fires take many days to control as it will continue spreading even though the fire is under control but the dry vegetation underneath will continue burning,” he told The Borneo Post.
So far this year, he said the Lopeng Fire Station has handled 69 peat soil fires in Lopeng, Permyjaya and Kuala Baram, where most idle land involves peat soil.
Eddy said all 50 firefighters are working three shifts round the clock to monitor and control fires.
He explained that two fire engines are deployed every morning to monitor the forests along Lutong-Kuala Baram road and the new Kuala Baram-Tudan road.
“By sending fire engines moving to these locations, if there are is fire outbreak, firemen can immediately put out the fire,” he said.
“We don’t wait for the public to contact Bomba (Fire and Rescue Department) on such fire outbreaks but will be monitoring on the ground to stop any fire.”
He highlighted a forest fire near Vista Perdana, yesterday, which firefighters managed to control quickly.
Eddy stressed the public must not conduct open burning to prevent the haze from worsening.
“We must be responsible to curb the haze, which can be a health hazard to the people at large,” he added.