Bush fire keeps firemen on the re-run

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STILL RAGING ON: Two members of the public help a fireman douse the bush fire at Wong King Huo Road. -Photo by Wilson Kong

SIBU: A stretch of cleared forest at Wong King Huo Road burnt for the eighth time in two weeks yesterday, putting the lives of residents there in danger.

Though fire fighters had been coming in and out of the area to douse the fire, they had to return to the scene yesterday as pockets of fire in the cleared land burned on.

Nearby residents said they have been living in fear because the peat soil fire is hard to control.

“One of us called the firemen again as the fire threatened to burn the overhead electrical cables,” related a resident.

He said the fire started at Lane 24 and shortly spread to Lane 18 where the cables were.

Residents said the fire had come from the plot that had been cleared for building houses.

They said there were five wooden houses in the area.

One of them said after they called the Fire and Rescue Department yesterday afternoon, they also informed Sibu MP Oscar Ling, both arriving within minutes.

The Fire and Rescue Department sent in two fire engines, one from the fire station in Sungei Merah and the other from Sibu Central Road.

Ling called on contractors to be responsible when clearing and burning a forest.

“Bush fires have been rampant. I have received complaints from residents in Teku, Sentosa and Bahagiah Jaya areas too.”

He said the irresponsible act had resulted in firemen running around.

“What if there comes a day when there are too many fires for them to fight? We should be more responsible in reducing these cases.”