Thick smoke blanketing Miri City yesterday morning.
MIRI: A Fire and Rescue department (Bomba) helicopter was deployed to combat peat soil fire behind Eastwood which sent thick smoke over the city centre yesterday morning.
Bomba Sarawak assistant director (Operations) Tiong Ling Hii when contacted yesterday said the helicopter had just returned to Miri from carrying a fire fighting operation in Mulu on Tuesday.
“The helicopter will assist in carrying out aerial water bombing in Eastwood,” he said.
Meanwhile, commander of operation Terry Robson Forance Nyanggau when contacted said the helicopter began its operation around noon yesterday.
Bomba personnel fighting the peat fire behind Eastwood yesterday.
When asked the situation at the peat fire area, Terry said they managed to put out the fire but the peat land is still smouldering and emanating smoke.
“We managed to control the fire from spreading but it is still active emanating smoke. We are doing our best,” he said.
The 36- member team of fire fighters deployed behind Eastwood comprised 11 Bomba personnel, eight volunteers from PantaiBayu and 17 from Naim.
The peat soil fire in Eastwood occurred at a land lot belonging to Pantai Bayu and had thus far burnt 82 acres.
The operation resumes today (Sept 26).
Two other spots active emanating smoke detected here were at Tukau and at Lot 3709 in Kuala Baram.
Zone 6 Bomba chief Supt Law PohKiong said the three hotspots were detected by Naim volunteers and Bomba helicopter around 4pm on Tuesday.