SARIKEI: Fire fighters were deployed to put out a fire at an illegal dump site at Jalan Nyelong here, yesterday evening.
The fire is believed to have been started by certain individuals to burn various types of wastes including tyres. It almost spread to the nearby woods.
Sarikei Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) chief Mahmuddin Narudin said he received a distress call at 4.42pm.
“Upon arrival, we found that the fire had engulfed a pile of rubbish. We extinguished the fire using water from the fire engine. At the same time, we also isolated the garbage for fear the fire would spread to nearby areas.
“It took us a while because the burning tyres were difficult to remove. The thick smoke emitted also raised concern among residents,” he told reporters.
He advised people in the area to refrain from open burning in view of the dry spell.
“If they want to make a fire, they have to watch over it or get advice from Bomba personnel to prevent the fire from spreading,” he said.
