Firefighters focus helicopter water bombing on central peat fire area in Kota Tinggi, with over half of the 99.54-hectare blaze extinguished.
KOTA TINGGI: Fire and rescue helicopters have intensified water bombing operations to extinguish a large peatland fire here.
The MI-17 helicopters from Subang Jaya are focusing on the central area of the blaze at Jalan Sungai Kapal, Taman Bayu Damai.
Johor JBPM Deputy Director Muhammad Al Mustakim Abdul Hady said the aerial operation targets areas inaccessible to ground teams.
“The helicopters’ focus is on the central area, which is difficult to access,” he told reporters at the Fire Control Centre.
He said the operation aims to accelerate fire control in the affected sector.
The helicopters can carry up to 1,340 litres of water per flight for targeted releases.
As of noon, about 54.8% of the 99.54-hectare affected area had been extinguished.
The central area accounts for roughly 30% of the total fire-affected zone.
Mustakim said water bombing also helps reduce smoke through water vapour.
This minimises the impact on nearby residents, which is a main objective.
Both aerial and ground operations are being conducted simultaneously using a top-down and bottom-up attack approach.
Fire breaks and flooding in several sectors are also being used to prevent spread.
The fire area is now divided into nine sectors, with several fully extinguished.
Helicopter operations are expected to continue until Friday, depending on needs.
A total of 153 residents from 50 families have been placed at two temporary evacuation centres.
The fire has been ongoing since last Friday.
The operation involves cooperation from the police, Civil Defence Force, and local councils.
Dry and windy weather contributed to the fire’s rapid spread and thick smoke.
Challenges include limited water sources and difficult access routes to the fire location.
A Bernama check found firefighting operations were still ongoing as of 1 pm.
Haze conditions in residential areas showed improvement compared to yesterday.
