66 firefighters battling wildfires in Petra Jaya

A firefighter walking across charred land at Kampung Tanjam, Jalan Biawak.

By Nancy Nais

KUCHING, Sept 7: Sixty six firefighters from five fire stations – Petra Jaya, Batu Lintang, Tabuan Jaya, Padungan and Bau are currently battling forest, peat and wild fires in Petra Jaya.

Helping their comrades from Petra Jaya station, they responded to three fires located at Jalan Camar in Taman Sri Perkasa which operation has entered the third day; Sg Belian in Rambungan; and Taman Sentoria in Semariang (Day 2).

Firefighters dipping themselves in water to reduce the intense heat as they continue to contain wildfires.

Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) acting director Tiong Ling Hii said to-date, they have received 118 cases of forest, peat and wild fires since Sept 1, involving some 273 acres of land.

An aerial view of the forest fire at Taman Sri Perkasa.

They had also responded to wildfires at Kampung Sedi in Tanjung Manis (Day 4); Kampung STC (Day 3) and Tabarok palm oil plantation in Sri Aman; and Kampung Lubuk Buntin in Kota Semarahan (Day 2).

In Lundu, firefighters also rushed to contain forest fire at Kampung Tanjam in Jalan Biawak, in which investigation found due to intentional burning by local farmers to clear their land for plantation.— DayakDaily