SANDAKAN: The public has been advised against carrying out open burning, especially in this current hot weather, as the fire spread fast and difficult to contain, Sandakan Zone Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia (JBPM) chief Andrew Anddre said.
He said putting out bush fire or grass fire during the dry spell normally took a longer time.
“Normally, it’s only when the fire has spread that we get the emergency calls, and by then it will affect the air quality,” he told reporters at an event to welcome the new Sandakan Fire and Rescue station chief Jimmy Lagung here today.
According to Anddre, bush fires in Sandakan could spread up to 4.85 hectare.
He said Sandakan Zone JBPM, which covers the districts of Sandakan, Kinabatangan and Beluran, had recorded 107 cases of fire since beginning of this year until yesterday (March 14), with the highest in Sandakan, involving 54 cases of grassland fire, 26 involving buildings and vehicles and seven bush fire cases.
However, there were no casualties involved, he added. – Bernama
