Bidor: The forest fire involving a research plot at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Bidor Research Station (SPF) was extinguished yesterday following swift and coordinated action by various agencies. In a statement today, FRIM confirmed that the fire was put out at about 2.30 pm, with further monitoring along the perimeter of the affected area continuing until 5.30 pm, before the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) concluded the operation at 5.50 pm.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, FRIM director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Parlan, along with FRIM Forestry Biotechnology Division director Dr Nor Hasnida Hassan and Forest Plantation Programme head Dr Rosdi Koter, visited the site yesterday morning. They received briefings from JBPM personnel and conducted an on-site inspection of the affected research plot.

Perak JBPM operations assistant director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad reported that the fire, which ignited in a 2.42-hectare forested area on September 7, was reported to the department at around 5.42 pm. An assessment of the fire's impact on the affected research plot will be carried out in accordance with FRIM's research, forest management, and conservation objectives.

The blaze was initially detected by SPF Bidor personnel during a routine patrol at 4.56 pm on September 7, before JBPM and police arrived at the scene at approximately 5.50 pm. The fire spread to an adjacent area by 8.50 pm, but was brought under control by JBPM by 10.50 pm, with containment efforts and monitoring extending until midnight to prevent any recurrence.

Firefighting operations resumed the following day at 9 am, employing excavators to create a one-metre-deep firebreak along the perimeter. This effort involved various agencies and the Perak Forestry Department, which provided additional drone monitoring to support the containment operations.