42 hotspots detected in Miri as SDMC aims for fire-free season

KUCHING: The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) is aiming for zero major fire occurrences in Miri during the current hot and dry weather.

Its chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas pointed out that 42 out of the 152 hotspots detected in Sarawak from Jan 1 to July 30 this year were in Miri.

“In July alone, we had detected a total of 90 hotspots in the state. Of these, Miri topped the list with 21, followed by Kapit (16) and Bintulu and Sri Aman (11 each).

“The peat soil area in Kuala Baram is highly susceptible to bush fires during the hot and dry season. Therefore, all relevant departments and agencies as well as landowners there must be proactive in all their preparations,” he said.

Uggah’s remarks followed the SDMC meeting yesterday (July 31) with divisional and district disaster management committees, and relevant government departments and agencies, to discuss preparations for the situation.

The Deputy Premier added that the Fire and Rescue Department and the Natural Resources and Environmental Board (NREB) should deploy their drones upon detecting any smoke coming from the area to assess the situation.

Uggah said there must also be personnel constantly manning the monitoring towers that are in the area.

“The NREB needs to intensify its surveillance, monitoring and enforcement activities all the time,” he said.

Total collaboration and co-operation from all other relevant authorities, including landowners, is much needed to achieve the zero major fire occurrences target.