By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Aug 15: Day one of the operation to douse the burning land near the Hamidah Welfare Complex ended smoothly today, despites minor challenges faced by the pilot while scooping water from the Baram River.
“We were experiencing some challenges at the beginning of the operation but eventually managed to overcome it,” said Bombardier C415 pilot Maritime Lieutenant Muhammad Saad this evening after the operation.
The crew encountered hundreds of floating logs on the river which is located about 9km from Sector One of the operation.
Today, the Bombardier C415 plane released a total of 18 drops or 108,000 litres of water onto Sector One.
Following the mission, three stations in Kuala Baram namely Miri Industrial Training Institute (ILP), SK Kuala Baram 2 and Miri showed a drop in their respective Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.
The API reading for ILP Miri was 215 as at 6pm (earlier in the afternoon, it was 225); Miri at 69 (77 as at 12pm) and SK Kuala Baram 2 at 66 (78 in the afternoon).
In a briefing held this evening after the operation ended, Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief Supt Law Poh Kiong disclosed, the situation in Section One has improved and focus would to turn to Sector Two and another hotspot that was discovered today during the operation.
“During our operation today, there was another hotspot identified and we named it as Sector Three. We have detected the area and spotted some amount of smoke and fires within the area and we need to contain it before it can become a threat,” said Law.
The operation will resume tomorow at 10am with focus given to Sector Two and Three. — DayakDaily
