KUCHING: The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) is gearing up for the dry season, which usually sees the occurrence of bushfires and forest fires, particularly in the coastal areas.
Sarawak Bomba director Datuk Khirudin Drahman said they would be using the same approach as when preparing for the northeast monsoon season.
“We will also get assistance from our Pasukan Bomba Bantuan (PBB-auxiliary), Pasukan Bomba Sukarela (PSB-volunteer) as well as members from Community Emergency Response Team (CERT),” he said today.
He disclosed that Sarawak recorded 1,055 cases of bushfires and forest fires in 2020, and 1,472 last year.
He pointed out that the increase was most likely to more agricultural activities, which were previously restricted when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak.
“Looking at when the movement control order (MCO) was imposed, the number of bushfires and forest fires was significantly less. Sarawak recorded 2,672 cases in 2019 and the state experienced severe haze.
“With the shift from pandemic to endemic, we are expecting the number of people doing agricultural activities to increase.”
He mentioned that Bomba together with state agencies such as the Forestry Department, Environmental Department as well as Natural Resources and Environment Board had been taking proactive approaches.
“These approaches involve advocation and awareness engagements with the community at different levels, particularly in areas expected to have increased agricultural activities.
“Firefighting is a losing battle, regardless of how good you are in firefighting. It always goes back to the 3P (prevention, precaution and protection).
“Through the various community engagement programmes and monitoring by all relevant agencies, we can see that there are concentrated efforts to tackle this issue.”
Khirudin added that the state government through Sarawak Disaster Management Committee and divisional disaster management committees had been proactive as well, adding that the committees had been urging communities to cooperate with the agencies.
“The communities are very responsive and the level of awareness is very high. I do hope that through experiences and engagements, we can control the occurrence of bushfires and forest fires, which often contribute to haze.”
