API at ILP Miri drops, two Bombardiers help fight fire

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One of two Bombardier CL 415 aircraft water bombs the affected area near ILP Miri.

One of two Bombardier CL 415 aircraft water bombs the affected area near ILP Miri.

MIRI: The air pollutant index (API) at ILP Miri yesterday showed a significant drop, thanks to the hard work of various government agencies and volunteers from Naim Cendera.

Assistant Minister of Communication Datuk Lee Kim Shin who visited the site yesterday said firemen from Lopeng Fire and Rescue station and volunteers from Naim Cendera had been working tirelessly round-the-clock to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading.

On Monday, the API at ILP Miri was at a hazardous level – with the reading at 260 (1pm) but dropped to 50 at 1pm yesterday. The API reading was 48 as at 3pm yesterday.

Lee also praised the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for sending two Bombardier CL 415 aircraft to help in putting out the fire.

“The two aircraft came all the way from Subang and are here to help our local enforcement agency to control and prevent the fire from destroying more areas.

“Each of the aircraft is capable of carrying 6,000 litres of water which would make it faster and easier to control the spread of the bushfire,” he added.

It is the first time the aircraft are being used in tackling bush fire here.

Meanwhile, Lee said that investigators believed that some hunters were responsible for causing the fire after having trespassed into private land.

“We definitely want them arrested. The authorities want to know those responsible so we are calling on anyone who has any information to come forward,” he said.

Over 1,000 acres of land have been destroyed since the fire started on Friday.

Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis, Miri Zone 6 Fire chief Supt Law Poh Kiong and Miri MMEA chief enforcement officer Capt (Maritime) Abim Sunggom were also present at the site with Lee yesterday.