Putting out fire behind golf course still on

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Volunteers help to douse the fire behind Eastwood golf course.

MIRI: An operation to put out a peat soil fire behind Eastwood golf course along Miri Bypass, which has ravaged about 84 acres of land belonging to Pantai Bayu, resumed around 8.30am yesterday after it was called off at 6.11pm Wednesday.

Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief Law Poh Kiong said the operation, which entered the third day yesterday, involved 63 people comprising 16 fire personnel, 30 volunteers from Pantai Bayu and 17 from Naim, led by Lopeng Fire and Rescue Station chief Terry Robson Forance Nyanggau.

“The third-day operation was conducted using three portable pumps with water from an open source,” said Law.

He said extinguishing the fire was divided into three sectors.

“Extinguishing fire using the Direct Attack, Fire Break and Compacting methods using two excavators were also carried out,” he added.

The operation yesterday also received assistance from a Bomba helicopter through water bombing of nearby forests with water sourced from the Eastwood golf pool.

According to Law, heavy rain on Wednesday evening also helped in the operation resulting in the affected areas producing thick smoke.

The operation was still ongoing at press time.

About 84 acres of land are affected by the peat soil fire.