SEREMBAN: The Fire and Rescue Department is urging the public to avoid open burning during the current dry weather to prevent the occurrence of bushfires, as the consequences can be severe, according to its director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad.
Nor Hisham expressed concern over individuals who have a tendency to intentionally start fires, noting that small fires were reported in seven areas within the same vicinity during his recent visit to Sabah.
He emphasized that extinguishing a bushfire can take between three to four hours, which could delay response to other emergencies in the area.
For instance, in Sibu, Sarawak, he mentioned that four fire engines were required to put out a bushfire, leaving only one engine available to respond to a fire that broke out in a nearby village.
This resulted in 62 houses being destroyed due to the lack of personnel on site.
Therefore, Nor Hisham stressed the importance of refraining from open burning to avoid such serious consequences.
He also cited an incident in Perak where firefighters were unable to promptly respond to a fire at a hypermarket because some personnel were engaged in fighting a bushfire.
The delay had a significant impact on the blaze, as personnel from other stations had to travel a longer distance to provide assistance.
