Firefighters in Sarawak bring three major bush and peat fires under control in Daro, Tatau, and Sibu following coordinated aerial and ground operations
KUCHING: The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department has reported positive progress in containing forest and peat fires across three locations in the state’s central region.
Coordinated aerial and ground operations have successfully controlled the blazes in Daro, Tatau, and Sibu. The state operations centre stated that integrated efforts from air and land teams yielded the improved situation.
For the bush fire in Kampung Penasuh, Daro, a Mi-171 helicopter with 12 crew was deployed from the Sarawak Regional Air Base in Miri.
The aerial team conducted water bombing for one hour and 30 minutes, releasing approximately 40,000 litres of water drawn from Sungai Hulu Seredang.
The operation focused on the fire’s perimeter to prevent further spread. Aerial risk assessment confirmed the fire was under control, aided by existing firebreaks around the affected area.
Meanwhile, the peat fire at Kuala Tatau Serupai in Tatau, now in its seventh day, is also contained. Ground operations used a GP 10/10 pump with a 200-foot hose line and two water jets directed at the forest.
Field teams remain on high alert with full firefighting gear. Joint monitoring with plantation management confirmed the entire fire area is controlled.
The fire location is about four kilometres from the fire control post and is surrounded by large drainage firebreaks to halt spread. Aerial unit monitoring also confirmed the fire is subsiding and contained.
Firefighting at the bush fire along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Sibu, entering its third day, focused on creating firebreaks and direct suppression in three main sectors.
The entire fire area in Sibu, estimated at 16.4 hectares with a minor 0.4-hectare increase recorded today, was fully extinguished by 4 pm following heavy rain.
