Perlis: The Perlis Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) recorded 183 cases of fire in January this year, which is more than three times the 57 fire cases during the same period last year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Senior Fire Officer 1 Wan Mohd Hamizi Wan Mohd Zin stated that the increase was partly attributed to open burning in the current hot and dry weather, which facilitated the spread of fires. The dry conditions have made grassy areas, scrublands, and wastelands highly flammable, leading to rapid fire spread, especially when open burning is not controlled.

Of the fires recorded last month, 137 cases were bush and grass fires, while the remaining incidents involved structural fires, including those at houses and business premises, as well as minor fires. Incidents such as fires at electrical poles and small-scale public facilities were categorized as small fires.

Wan Mohd Hamizi urged the public to act responsibly by avoiding open burning during the hot weather, as it poses threats to safety and the environment. He emphasized that the Perlis JBPM would enhance monitoring and enforcement in high-risk areas to prevent open burning during the dry season.

Additionally, he noted that the average response time for the Perlis JBPM in January was 9.36 minutes, showing an improvement from the 9.46 minutes recorded for the previous year. Last year, the department managed 400 fire cases, along with 308 rescue operations and three special tasks.