Daro peat fire under control – CMO

0

Smoke still visible at the affected area in Daro.

KUCHING: The peat fire in Daro which began last Friday is now under control, with Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) personnel from Tanjung Manis closely monitoring the situation.

A press statement from the Chief Minister’s Office yesterday quoted Daro district officer Abang Mohammad Abang Turki as saying the underground fire was brought under control on Saturday and that Bomba personnel are doing their best to ensure it does not spread to nearby areas.

“The fire started from the adjacent pineapple plot owned by a local villager.

“Bomba personnel have dug trenches at the affected site as a preventive measure to contain the fire.

“The best method of containing the fire is to pour lots of water to totally put out the underground fire,” Abang Mohammad was quoted as saying.

The statement also mentioned that Bomba has set up a temporary operations centre near the site, pending the completion of the Bomba Daro headquarters and fire station which are expected to commence operation on Dec 18 this year.

Firefighters monitor the peat fire in Daro.

Meanwhile, Daro assemblyman Shafiee Ahmad visited the affected area and donated a water pump to the local volunteer firefighting unit.

The volunteer unit had on Saturday appealed to the government for equipment and suitable vehicles to help them combat peat fire at Kampung Kut in Pulau Bruit, not far from Daro.

Unit chairman Satar Smawai told The Borneo Post last Friday that peat fires have been happening in the area for the past four consecutive years, with this year’s fire particularly bad.