Beneath the surface, peat fires keep burning

Kuala Lumpur - While the visible flames of peat fires may have ceased, the fires continue to smolder beneath the ground, posing a unique challenge for firefighters in Malaysia. The Fire and Rescue Department is on high alert, anticipating severe fires in forests should the ongoing hot and dry spell persist. Director-General Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohamad highlighted the difficulty in controlling peat fires, as they spread underground and require significantly more time to extinguish than typical bush fires.

Currently, the department is monitoring 62 locations nationwide that are at risk of large-scale forest fires exceeding 25 hectares, accounting for 183 locations identified as hotspots for open burning over the past five years. The looming threat of a Super El Nino is expected to peak in November, with the northern and east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sabah, being particularly vulnerable from mid-January.

Preparing for potential fires, the department is strengthening inter-agency cooperation and monitoring high-risk areas to prevent escalation. When fires break out in remote locations such as forests and peatlands, firefighters face significant challenges due to the inability to reach these areas with standard fire engines. Portable pumps, hoses, and firefighters must be transported using four-wheel-drive vehicles.

However, modern technology, like drones, can assist commanders in gaining an aerial perspective of the fire, enabling them to assess the affected area's size, identify the fire's direction, and devise a more effective firefighting strategy.

To prevent the worsening of the situation, the department emphasizes the importance of prevention alongside firefighting efforts. Extended periods without rainfall will dry out vegetation, making it easier for grass and bushes to ignite and turning a small fire into a rapidly spreading blaze. Currently, the Fire and Rescue Department has recorded an increase in bush fires, from 1,199 last year to 1,815 so far this year. Additionally, fires involving farms and plantations have surged from 758 to 1,214.

The primary culprits behind these fires are humans who conduct open burning for purposes such as disposing of rubbish or clearing agricultural land. Nor Hisham urged the public not to underestimate small fires, as even a small blaze can rapidly spread into bushes, forests, and grassland.