GEORGE TOWN – Firefighters took more than six hours to put out the blaze which engulfed 7.3 hectares of forested area along Jalan Chee Seng in Tanjung Bungah near here yesterday afternoon.
Bagan Jermal Fire and Rescue station operations commander, Wan Chik Ariffin Mohd Ismail said firefighters received an emergency call at 4.42pm and arrived at the scene 10 minutes later.
“Upon arrival, we found three parts of the forest area were already destroyed and a total of 50 officers and firefighters were involved in the firefighting operation,” he said when contacted today.
He said firefighters had to walk to the site due to the area’s hilly terrain, with the uneven ground also causing difficulties.
Wan Chik Ariffin said the fire was finally brought under control at 9.41 pm and the cause of the fire was still being investigated by the Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) forensic team.
“Firefighters conducted a size-up to ensure that the fire did not spread to the nearby area,” he said, adding the operation completed at 11.30 pm – over six hours after it was believed to have started.
He said no casualties were reported and efforts to put out the flames was also assisted by volunteer firefighters from Mount Erskine, Paya Terubong and Bukit Bendera.
The incident comes two weeks after state Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh warned residents against open burning.
The northern region faces hot and dry weather between January and March each year.
Phee said the Environment Department plans to issue more compounds to those who continue to practise open burning on the pretext of clearing land and burning rubbish. – The Vibes, February 5, 2021
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