Four men arrested over Pekan Forest Reserve fire
PEKAN: Police have detained four men suspected of causing a large-scale fire at the Pekan Forest Reserve here on Monday.
Police have detained four men for allegedly setting a large fire at the Pekan Forest Reserve on Monday, according to Superintendent Mohd Zaidi Mat Zin of the district police. The men, ranging in age from 27 to 60, are suspected pineapple farmers in the area. They were detained to help with the investigation into the fire at a peat swamp forest near their homes, but were later released on police bail.
The case is being handled under Section 285 of the Penal Code, which deals with negligent actions concerning fire or combustible materials. According to Harry Yong, deputy director of the Pahang Forestry Department, the fire at the Pekan Forest Reserve last week destroyed over 80 hectares of peat swamp forest. The department had constructed two drains approximately 1,500 meters long to prevent the fire from spreading further into the forest reserve.
Although yesterday's heavy rain helped to put out the fire, forestry and fire rescue department staff continue to monitor the area daily, as reported by New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
