KOTA TINGGI: A forest fire sparked by scorching temperatures and prolonged dry conditions in Sebana Cove-Punggai in Pengerang has entered its third day, destroying more than 32ha since it began on Sunday.
Fire and Rescue Department operation commander Mohd Khairul Sufian Dahari
said they opted for a sector-based strategy to contain the flames from engulfing the remaining bushes, and their efforts saw almost a 50 per cent suppression rate.
"In the first sector from Punggai to the road side of Sebana Cove, 15 firefighters utilised two 92-metre long hose, while in the opposite direction from Sebana to Punggai, firefighters used two water nozzles to kill the encroaching flames," he said when contacted today.
Also used in the operations were two aircrafts, using the water-bombing and low-fly water drop methods.
"The water bombing is a technique used where water is dropped from aircrafts to reduce the hottest spots in a fire, making it safer for firemen on the ground, while low-flying drop water is where fire suppressants or liquid pellets are dropped from low flying aircrafts for the same purpose," said Mohd Khairul Sufian.
He said the fire was also managed by using a total flooding technique, where the areas were flooded with water.
"Despite our efforts, we have yet to totally kill the fire, and operations are still on-going," he said.
"The secondary forest is not inhabited by any endangered species animals, but there are some monkeys and other animals which have escaped the grounds to a lake near-by," he said, adding that at press time no carcass was found.
Sebana Cove is a resort township near Punggai here, with residential and commercial premises, which includes a private marina and an 18-hole golf course.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) deployed
their Bombardier CL-415 Amphibious Aircraft to support the Fire and Rescue Department to combat the forest fire.
State MMEA director Nurul Hizam Zakaria said that their aircraft were deployed after three days of aerial surveillance by the department's Fire Drone Unit, revealing that the wildfire had spread to 32ha.
"Upon Kota Tinggi district Office's request for assistance, MMEA coordinated the deployment of our aircraft and initiated water-bombing operations to control the fire," he said, adding that the Bombardier's capability of ferrying more than 6,000 litres of water in a single water-scooping operation.
"Today, the aircraft has successfully performed 18 water-bombing runs, with operations expected to continue tomorrow, until the affected area is fully extinguished," he said.