THE Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department has shifted to a state of full operational readiness as the nation braces for an extended period of heightened environmental disasters driven by the El Nino phenomenon and the Southwest Monsoon, which are projected to persist until early 2027.
Fire and Rescue Department Director-General Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad confirmed that the entire workforce and all institutional assets have been placed on the highest alert status to ensure emergency response capabilities remain optimal.
The strategic deployment focuses heavily on mitigating open burning threats, including forest and peatland blazes that typically escalate during protracted dry spells.
That measure specifically targets the threat of open burning, including forest and peatland fires, which typically intensify during the dry season.
In this regard, the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) has also issued its 2026 Dry Season and Peatland Forest Fire Preparedness Directive to all states, outlining comprehensive preventive measures and emergency response plans, Nor Hisham said in an official agency briefing.
As part of the nationwide initiative, emergency response teams have begun conducting regular patrols in identified fire-prone areas based on historical hotspot records.
Authorities are also closely monitoring critical firefighting infrastructure, including tube wells, water check dams and watchtowers, to ensure suppression operations can be carried out swiftly and effectively whenever fires occur.
“Among the initiatives being implemented are regular patrols in hotspot areas identified through historical fire records, as well as close monitoring of critical infrastructure such as tube wells, water check dams and watchtowers to ensure firefighting operations can be conducted effectively,” the Director-General said.
The department has simultaneously strengthened cross-agency partnerships to manage fire risks at waste landfill sites, facilitate the deployment of high-capacity water pumps, and maintain real-time surveillance over high-risk ecological zones.
Nor Hisham noted that the authority stands ready to immediately activate the Haze and Open Burning Operations Room should emergency calls surge.
In tandem with these operational measures, federal authorities are appealing to the civic responsibility of the population to prevent an environmental crisis.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department issued a parallel warning urging citizens to practice strict water conservation and to completely refrain from open burning, especially with the immediate El Nino conditions forecast to intensify until at least September 2026.
Members of the public are strongly reminded to report any sightings of unauthorized burning or active blazes immediately by contacting the national emergency services line at 999. - June 15, 2026
