Pengerang: The Air Unit of the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is expected to begin water bombing today in an effort to extinguish a peatland fire that has been burning for nearly 100 hectares since last Friday at Jalan Sungai Kapal, Taman Bayu Damai in Pengerang.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Head of the JBPM Air Division Operations Management Branch, Mohd Ruzaidi Ramlee, announced that the MI-17-IV helicopter, accompanied by two pilots and 13 crew members, will depart from the Central Region Air Base in Subang, Selangor, for the 10 am mission. The helicopter, equipped with a 1,590-litre Bambi Bucket, will utilize the fire-bucket method for forest firefighting operations.
Mohd Ruzaidi explained that helicopters are efficient for surface fires and are also employed in creating fire breaks and delivering personnel and equipment to areas inaccessible by land. The helicopter will be piloted by Deputy Fire Chief II Mohd Hasrizal Kamaruzzaman and Senior Assistant Fire Chief Ahmad Hafiz Sulaiman. The operation involves a team comprising flight engineers, air quartermasters, Special Air Fire Service (PASKUB) personnel, and bowsermen.
An aerial survey will be conducted initially to assess the fire's current state for further mission planning with the operation commander. As of 7 pm yesterday, the firefighting operation had reached 50 percent completion, with firefighters successfully controlling and extinguishing approximately 49.8 hectares of the affected area.
Support for the operation comes from several agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police, the Civil Defence Force, Pengerang Municipal Council, the Irrigation and Drainage Department, the Public Works Department, and the Department of Environment. The rapid spread of the fire was attributed to dry and windy conditions, causing thick smoke to drift into nearby residential areas around Taman Bayu Damai.
Efforts to combat the fire have been challenged by limited water sources and difficult terrain access, disrupting residents' daily lives as dense smoke blankets housing areas, causing breathing difficulties and reduced visibility. As of last night, the smoke continued to linger, with a strong smell of burning present in the air.
Consequently, 153 victims from 50 families have been evacuated to two relief centres as of 8 am today. These centres include the Taman Bayu Damai Multipurpose Hall and Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Kapal. Firefighting efforts in Sector B yesterday focused on extinguishing the blaze using a 500-foot hose line, supported by breaching, nozzle jetting, and constructing a fire break. In Sector A, firefighters, along with the Civil Defence Force, were divided into teams to tackle the fire using mechanical and portable pumps and water from nearby hydrants.