Penang Fire Department responded to 12 open burning incidents in 12 hours due to hot, dry weather, urging public caution.
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Fire and Rescue Department extinguished 12 open burning incidents within a 12-hour period today.
The operations followed hot and dry weather conditions affecting the state since this morning.
State JBPM Operations Division assistant director John Sagun Francis said the department received 29 emergency calls between 8 am and 8 pm.
Seventeen of those calls involved fire-related cases.
“Of the total number of fire incidents, 10 involved grass and bush fires, which were due to the current dry and windy weather conditions,” he said in a statement.
He added that two cases of rubbish fires were also recorded in Kepala Batas.
The Kepala Batas fires are believed to have been caused by residents carrying out open waste burning activities.
John Sagun advised the public to cease all forms of open burning.
He also urged people to refrain from indiscriminately discarding cigarette butts.
This caution aims to prevent more serious fire risks under the prevailing hot and dry weather.
