Kuala abang: Firefighting operations at a peat swamp forest fire in Kampung Baru, Kuala Abang, are being focused on areas near two schools today to ensure that classes can proceed as usual.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) operations commander Kasyfi Syahmi Ghazali stated that priority was given to the areas due to concerns over student safety and the potential disruption to the learning environment caused by thick smoke. The two schools involved are Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kampung Baru Kuala Abang and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Kuala Abang.

Kasyfi revealed that the forest fire started last Wednesday and has blanketed the village in thick smoke, affecting visibility and air quality in the surrounding areas. He mentioned that the firefighting operation area has been divided into three sectors, with a focus today on areas near SMK Agama Kuala Abang and SK Kampung Baru Kuala Abang.

The fire involves a forest area spanning 34 hectares, with most of it already extinguished, while about six hectares, or 20 percent, are still being put out. Kasyfi said the fire is expected to be fully extinguished within the next three days, depending on weather conditions, including wind direction and the source of the fire.

Today, a total of 90 firefighters, along with local residents and other agencies, are involved in the firefighting operation. Meanwhile, the use of a helicopter for water-bombing operations in areas that are difficult for ground teams to access, which had been deployed since Friday, has been temporarily suspended today, depending on operational conditions.