| Faza Suraj |
THE fire affected peat lands in the Belait District saw a considerable decline in smoke, thanks to yesterday’s heavy rainfall.
According to the Fire and Rescue Department Branch ‘B’ Belait, showers began yesterday at around 2am and continued until 12pm.
Mohd Shahreeni bin Haji Mohd Yusof, Commanding Officer of the Fire and Rescue Department Branch ‘B’ Belait, told the Bulletin that the situation which has been prolonging since January 28 has improved substantially after the rain.
Before the rain, the fire-stricken areas were having a smoke level of 60 per cent, but the 10-hour-long rainfall has reduced it to 12 per cent, he added.
Currently, Sector 1 perimeter located at the Sungai Bera Light Industrial Area is producing only eight per cent of smoke while at Sector 2 area at the Badas Pipeline vicinity produces 10 per cent. In Sector 3 at KM16 to KM18 the level is at 20-25 per cent, and in Sector 4 at points KM15, 14 and 13 along the KB-Seria Bypass it stands at five per cent.
A Fire and Rescue personnel working hard at one of the areas which is still producing smoke. – FAZA SU-RAJ
“Even though the Sector 3 area has been soaked in rain, smoke is still being released from the soil,” the official added, while assuring that firefighters are still operating at the area with the help of soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Lumut Camp.
Mohd Shahreeni further explained that the areas near the highway are clear from smoke and the department is now focusing on the isolated areas which still produce smoke.
According to the Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department, the last heavy rainfall which occurred in the area was on January 8 which lasted for two days. The department expects more rains in the next few days.
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