Miri tightens control on open burning as authorities heighten drought, fire preparedness

Uggah chairing a briefing session of the Miri DDMC in a meeting room at Miri Airport on April 30, 2026.

By DayakDaily Team

MIRI, April 30: Open burning restrictions in the Miri Division have been tightened amid worsening hot and dry conditions, with the Divisional Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) directed to strengthen drought preparedness and step up readiness to prevent haze and peatland fires.

In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the current weather conditions pose a heightened risk of haze and uncontrolled fires, particularly in peatland areas such as Kuala Baram, which are highly vulnerable during dry spells.

He stressed that open burning not only deteriorates air quality but can quickly escalate into large-scale fires that are difficult to contain.

He instructed all agencies under disaster management in the Miri Division to remain on high alert and ensure rapid response capability in the event of any emergencies.

“This level of preparedness is crucial to ensure every incident can be handled swiftly and effectively, minimising impacts on public safety and the environment,” he said after chairing a briefing session of the Miri DDMC at the EOC Meeting Room in Miri Airport today.

Uggah, who also chairs the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), emphasised that all operational assets and equipment must be kept in optimal condition and ready for immediate deployment whenever required.

The briefing session included updates from relevant agencies on the current haze situation, fire incidents, water supply status, and public health conditions in the division.

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), 23 hotspot locations have been detected so far, with seven cases currently under investigation.

Continuous monitoring of the open burning ban has been carried out, particularly in the Kuala Baram peat swamp area since early March, along with verification of hotspots in commercial plantation areas to determine the causes of the incidents.

Also present were Minister for Transport and minister-in-charge of Miri DDMC Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, and Miri Division Resident cum Miri DDMC chairman Galong Luang. — DayakDaily