Kuala lumpur: A helicopter was used in the operation to put out a forest fire at a hillslope near Gua Niah, Taman Negara Niah in Batu Niah today, as the hilly terrain continued to thwart firefighting efforts. A Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department Operations Centre spokesman said a MI-17 helicopter belonging to the department's Air Unit conducted water bombing at 2.40 pm today with water taken from Sungai Niah, adding that the fire is believed to have been started by burning trees that were struck by lightning at two locations, the Bukit Traders Cave hillslope and Kuala Hangus in Gua Besar yesterday afternoon.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the fires involve areas about 1.618 hectares and 0.809 hectares, which have been put out, while the remaining 0.809 hectares are still on fire. Firefighting operations were suspended at 4.20 pm and would resume tomorrow. Today's operation involved 17 firefighters, a fire engine, a four-wheeled drive vehicle, and the MI-17 helicopter, along with five Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) personnel.

Batu Niah Fire and Rescue Station firefighters were dispatched to the park yesterday to fight the fire after the department received a call at about 2 pm. However, they were unable to fight the fire on land as the fires were situated near steep rocky hill peaks, which were difficult to access. The team could only conduct observations and discussed with the SFC to temporarily close the park to the public due to safety factors.