| Faza Suraj |
THE spread of the Belait peatland fires is now wider and heading further inland adding difficulty and danger to unyielding firefighting efforts.
Even with the increase of the number of personnel from 25 to 85, firefighters of the Fire and Rescue Department Branch ‘B’ are required to work overtime to ensure that the damage from the flames is kept to a minimum while also responding to emergency calls for building related fires.
Incident Command Post (ICP) Commander Muhammad Ali bin Hassan explained that the affected areas have now been divided among the four out of the five fire stations in the district.
“The areas divided into four sectors become the main focus of the Branch ‘B’ as they are within the vicinity of the KB-Lumut Bypass where the safety of the motorists is prioritised,” said ICP Commander Muhammad Ali as he explained during a meeting with station commanders.
According to ICP Commander Muhammad Ali, the areas include Sector 1 of the Sungai Bera Light Industrial Area taken over by the SPARK fire station with 30 personnel, Sector 2 which is the Badas Pipeline vicinity under the authority of 15 personnel of Sungai Liang Fire Station, 15 personnel from Seria Fire Station KM19 and KM18 and finally Sector 4 under the jurisdiction of the Kuala Belait Fire Station also with 15 personnel focusing on the KM15, 14 and 13 along the highway.
Photo shows part of the Belait peatlands on fire. The spread of the Belait peatland fires is now wider and heading further inland adding difficulty and danger to unyielding firefighting efforts. – FAZA SURAJ
He explained that to help balance the workload of battling peatland fires and responding to cases received through the 995 hotline, the workforce has to be maintained and all stations involved have to work overtime with the permission of the officers and they will be given in-lieu off days.
Due to the vigorous activities of firefighting which involves being exposed to intense heat and thick smoke, one personnel was admitted to the hospital and ICP Commander Muhammad Ali said that it was under his instruction to send the personnel to the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Belait.
“On the previous day, he was involved in putting out the flames from 7.30am to 6pm and after that there was a case in Kg Api-Api in Seria which produced thick smoke followed by another emergency call which involved a storeroom wherein goods caught fire causing the personnel to inhale too much smoke,” said ICP Commander Muhammad Ali.
“He felt difficulties in breathing and then he received treatment in Suri Seri Begawan Hospital where he was admitted for one night,” added ICP Commander Muhammad Ali while informing that the personnel was released this morning and issued two days of medical leave.
Fatigue among fire personnel is expected due to the situation Belait Branch ‘B’ is facing as it may lead to personnel having lack of sleep, said Assistant Superintendent Wan Julaini bin Wan Ibrahim, Acting Deputy Commanding Officer of the Fire and Rescue Department Branch ‘B’ Belait.
“The main priority of Branch ‘B’ falls on douse fires which have the highest danger towards the lives of the residents of the Belait District and it includes the fires near housing areas and the roadside which also pose a threat to vehicles carrying flammable chemicals,” he added.
Due to the dry and windy season increasing the speed at which the fire is spread, he called on the public to conduct prayers and hope that the situation will get better as chances of totally extinguishing the peatland fires are slim.
“Even though efforts are ongoing, hopefully there will be rainfall to provide substantial help in dousing the fires, since it is harder to reach some areas,” said the assistant superintendent.
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