By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Aug 13: Hundreds of firefighters have been battling forest, bushfires and smoke in various parts of the state for weeks.
Although tired from the smouldering heat, long hours (minimum 12 hours shift), breathing in thick smoke and carbon to contain the fire as much as they could, they will not give up for the sake of the community.
As a gesture to thank them for working round the clock, two groups from Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) visited firefighters in Kuching and Miri.
PKR National Women vice-chief Voon Shiak Ni, accompanied by Sarawak Women chief Nurhanim Hanna Mokhsen and Stampin Youth chief Jeffrey Mok visited the firefighters who were busy dousing bush fires in Semariang.
“They have been working hard to contain the wildfires that have spread to a few districts over the past few days,” Voon said as she praised the team for their continuous effort in battling the wildfires.
Voon, who is also the special officer to the federal Housing and Local Government Ministry, extended minister Zuraida Kamaruddin’s concern and messages.
She also advised the public to stay indoors and reduce outdoor activities as the Air Pollution Index (API) had hit the hazardous level in Miri.
She also urged the public to stop open burning.
Over in Miri, PKR Miri branch Women chief Korina Mang and her team visited firefighters at Lopeng and Miri stations.
They also distributed free face mask to members of the public.
As at 6pm, the worst-hit areas are Industrial Training Institute (ILP) Miri, where the API was now at 334, while the SK Kuala Baram 2 monitoring station registered a 264. The API in Sri Aman was 133. — DayakDaily
