Over 12,900 fire incidents recorded in M’sia this year to date, up from last year’s 9,941, says Bomba Deputy D-G

KUCHING (April 1): Fire incidents across Malaysia have risen again this year after declining in 2025, with 12,938 cases recorded nationwide as of March 31, said Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Deputy Director-General (Operations) Dato Ir Ts Ahmad Izram Osman.

He said statistics over the past three years showed a fluctuating trend, but the number of cases had increased again this year.

“Based on statistics for the past three years — 2024, 2025 and 2026 — the trend is inconsistent, but we are seeing an increase again in 2026,” he told a press conference after gracing the Bomba Sarawak Excellent Service Award Ceremony at Dewan Majma Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah here.

Ahmad Izram said 12,938 cases recorded so far this year involved forest, bush and plantation fires, with bush fires remaining the most common type of incident, compared to 9,941 cases in 2025.

According to him, 13,182 bush fire cases were recorded in 2024, followed by 7,984 in 2025, before rising again to 11,147 cases recorded up to March this year.

“This year, within just three months, we have already recorded more than 12,000 cases involving forest, bush and plantation fires,” he said.

“Within just three months of 2026, we have already recorded more than 11,000 bush fire cases,” he said.

Several states recorded the highest number of bush fire incidents, with Kedah topping the list at 2,524 cases, followed by Johor (1,886), Melaka (1,010), Kelantan (937) and Perak (759).

For plantation and farm fires, Johor recorded the highest number with 359 cases, followed by Selangor (165), Perak (54), Kedah (29) and Kelantan (25).

Ahmad Izram said 1,047 forest fire incidents had also been recorded nationwide as of March this year, with Selangor reporting the highest number at 337 cases, followed by Kelantan (123), Penang (121), Sabah (113) and Kedah (102).

He attributed the rising number of fires to hot and dry weather conditions, which increase the risk of vegetation fires.

“We are seeing temperatures reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius in some areas, especially in the northern part of the peninsula, which increases the risk of bush and peatland fires,” he said.

He also noted that uncontrolled open burning, including slash-and-burn agricultural practices, remains a major challenge.

“Open burning that is not properly controlled can easily spread to nearby vegetation and plantations, especially during dry conditions,” he said.

To address the issue, Ahmad Izram said the department has mapped high-risk areas and intensified monitoring efforts, including increasing patrols at hotspot locations.

He said Bomba is also working with enforcement agencies such as the Department of Environment to curb illegal open burning.

“We do not have direct enforcement powers, but we assist enforcement agencies to ensure action can be taken according to the law,” he said.

Ahmad Izram added that the department is increasingly using technology such as drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to detect fires, particularly in peatland areas.

“We cannot rely solely on manpower to fight fires. We are now using drones with thermal imaging to detect hotspots, especially in peat soil areas,” he said.

He said firefighting operations involving bush and peat fires can take several days, with personnel often working extended shifts to contain the blaze.

“In some cases, operations can take more than a week, and our personnel sometimes have to work 24-hour shifts to contain the fires,” he said.

In Sarawak, Ahmad Izram said several fire incidents had been reported recently, including in Tatau, Daro and Senadin, with firefighting teams continuing operations on site.