Pengerang peat blaze remains challenging despite water-bombing helicopter support

KOTA TINGGI: Firefighters have made progress in combating a peat fire in Pengerang, but challenging conditions have made containment difficult. A water-bombing helicopter was deployed to aid ground operations, yet hot, dry, and windy weather has fueled the blaze and impeded efforts to control it. Johor Fire and Rescue Department director Siti Rohani Nadir reported that the fire has spread rapidly due to unfavorable weather, leading to round-the-clock firefighting operations.

The fire has torched 27.8ha, leaving 23.6ha still ablaze. Ground crews are conducting direct attacks in two operational sectors, while excavators create firebreaks to contain the flames. One sector has been almost entirely extinguished, with only hard-to-reach hotspots requiring constant monitoring. Rohani appealed to the public for vigilance during the ongoing heatwave, urging them to refrain from open burning and ensure proper disposal of potential ignition sources like cigarette butts.

The fire ignited along Jalan Bypass Punggai-Sebana Cove on Monday, and has since expanded to 51.4ha, with ongoing efforts to quell the remaining inferno and prevent further spread. No injuries have been reported.