Kuala Tatau Serupai bush fire brought under control, 72ha still affected

BINTULU (March 31): A bush fire at Kuala Tatau Serupai in Tatau, which has affected some 300 hectares, has been brought under control after eight days of firefighting operations.

The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) in a statement said of the total area affected, 223 hectares have been extinguished, three hectares put out naturally, and 74 hectares remain affected.

“Only small patches of smoke remain at the affected site. Some areas were extinguished naturally following rainfall on Sunday night,” it said.

Bomba added that personnel from the Tatau fire station, assisted by the Civil Defence Force (APM), continued to monitor the situation yesterday while also carrying out firefighting operations.

“Three teams were deployed to different locations, each with seven personnel assigned specific tasks to prevent the fire from spreading,” it added.

Meanwhile, Bomba Sarawak deputy director Tiong Ling Hii said the department recorded a spike in open burning across the state from March 15 to 29, with Miri Division having the most cases.

He said statistics showed an escalating trend in fire incidents from March 22, with daily cases averaging at more than 20 until March 29.

“On March 25, open burning cases reached to 35 cases before declining to 23 and 22 cases on March 26 and 27, respectively.

“However, another spike was recorded on March 28 with 30 cases, before reducing to 14 cases on March 29,” he said.

Tiong said from March 15 to 29, Miri recorded the highest number of open burning cases at 72, followed by Sibu (41), Mukah (36) and Bintulu (29).

In the southern region, 18 cases were reported in Kuching, and 11 in Betong.

“Serian recorded seven cases, while Samarahan, Sri Aman and Kapit each recorded six cases. Sarikei recorded five, and Limbang recorded two,” he added.