Firefighters from Betong Bomba Station at the scene.
KUCHING (Aug 22): Firefighters are battling a blaze involving an estimated 30 hectares of former oil palm plantation and peatland along Jalan Bungin, Serembang in Betong this afternoon.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said the Betong Bomba Station was mobilised to the scene after receiving an emergency call at 2.44pm.
Firefighters arrived at the location at around 3.15pm and found that the fire had spread across an estimated 30 hectares of former oil palm plantation and peatland.
“The firefighting operation was hampered by difficult and narrow access to the site, a lack of water sources at the location, and unsatisfactory Government Integrated Radio Network (GIRN) and mobile phone coverage,” the department said in a statement.
A firefighter battling the blaze.
Six firefighters, using one Fire Rescue Tender (FRT), were involved in the operation.
Firefighting efforts were still underway as of 5pm.