Beneath the surface, peat fires keep burning

KUALA LUMPUR: Though the flames may have ceased and the smoke dissipated, the depths of the earth can still harbor a smoldering peat fire. This poses a significant challenge for the Fire and Rescue Department as they brace for potential severe fires in Malaysia's forests during the ongoing hot and dry spell. Director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohamad emphasized the difficulty in controlling these fires due to their ability to spread beneath the ground, taking much longer to extinguish than typical bush fires.

The department is vigilantly monitoring 62 locations nationwide, deemed at risk of large-scale forest fires exceeding 25ha, constituting 183 hotspots identified through records from the past five years. The department is preparing for the potential impacts of a Super El Nino expected to peak in November, affecting areas including the northern and eastern coastal states of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.

To enhance preparations, inter-agency cooperation has been bolstered, and high-risk areas remain under constant monitoring to prevent fire escalation. For firefighters, one of the most daunting aspects arises when fires ignite in remote locations such as forests, peatlands, and other inaccessible areas, where their fire engines cannot reach.

In such scenarios, portable pumps, hoses, and firefighters must be transported using four-wheel-drive vehicles. However, with the advent of modern technology, drones can be deployed to offer commanders an aerial perspective of the fire, aiding in assessing the affected area's size, identifying the fire's direction, and devising a more effective firefighting strategy.

In major fire incidents, personnel and equipment can be transferred between stations, zones, and states, while other agencies can provide water sources, heavy machinery, and logistical support. Nor Hisham highlighted that the increasingly dry conditions necessitate prevention efforts as critical as firefighting. Extended periods with little or no rainfall will dry out vegetation, making grass and bushes more susceptible to ignition, while strong winds can transform a small fire into a rapidly spreading blaze.

The department has already observed a rise in bush fires, from 1,199 last year to 1,815 so far in the current year, and fires involving farms and plantations have also increased from 758 to 1,214. Humans, particularly those conducting open burning for rubbish disposal and agricultural land clearing, are the primary culprits. Nor Hisham urged the public not to underestimate small fires, as even a minor fire can rapidly spread into bushes, forests, and grasslands if left unchecked.