Hot weather and strong winds complicate firefighting as 51‑hectare Kota Tinggi peat blaze rages

Kota Tinggi, Aug 25 — Intense heat and powerful winds are posing significant challenges to firefighters battling a 51.4-hectare peat fire on Jalan Bypass Sebana Cove-Punggai. Operations commander, Deputy Fire Supt II Baharuddin Idris reported that 9.7% of the fire in Sector A, comprising 35.6 hectares, and the entire Sektor B area of 15.8 hectares, are under control.

The main obstacles are the strong winds, scorching weather, and a dwindling water supply, which they replenish using tankers and Ranhill SAJ. No new fires have been detected, and there have been no casualties from the blaze. They employ direct attack techniques while awaiting two additional excavators to create firebreaks, essential for tackling the peat and forest terrain, particularly in Sector A. Despite no threat to residential zones, the nearest housing area is Sebana Cove, approximately three kilometers away, with Punggai being four to five kilometers distant.

The road has been barred to the public since 2pm yesterday. Baharuddin expressed concern about the fire potentially spreading with stronger winds, yet the situation in Sektor B remains under control. He hopes the weather will remain moderate so they can extinguish the fire in Sektor B. However, Sector A still requires assistance in establishing firebreaks using amphibious excavators.

The fire, situated on agricultural land with a small oil palm plot, remains unattributed to any specific cause, and ongoing investigations are underway. Twenty-one personnel, including four Civil Defence Force members, are actively engaged in firefighting efforts. Tanjung Surat assemblyman Aznan Tamin urged residents to adhere to authorities' directives, refrain from using the closed Punggai bypass, and utilize alternative routes.

He also suggested that locals, especially in Taman Bayu Damai and Punggai, don facemasks if exposed to dense smoke due to the Air Pollution Index (API) in the area rising slightly to 125. Tamin emphasized the importance of caution and refraining from open burning, particularly during hot weather, to prevent similar incidents.