KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 18,432 open burning cases involving forests, shrubland and waste were recorded by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) from January to July this year, compared with 9,941 cases during the same period last year.
JBPM director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said the figure was also higher than the 16,294 cases recorded during the same period in 2024.
In view of this, he said JBPM was now specifically monitoring 183 locations nationwide identified as being prone to open burning based on records from the past five years.
“Of these, 62 locations have been identified as being at risk of large-scale fires involving areas exceeding 25 hectares, which could make it difficult for us to mobilise teams when they occur, so we are monitoring them closely,” he told reporters after officiating the Firefighting Skills Hub here today.
Nor Hisham said large-scale open fires were currently occurring frequently in Sarawak, including in Sri Aman and Mukah, while the Peninsula had also recorded many incidents, albeit on a smaller scale.
He said Sabah was among the areas receiving attention due to its vegetation and terrain, which could cause fires to spread rapidly and become difficult to control.
“Based on records from 2024, seven locations with major fires were identified around Kota Kinabalu, with the areas also included among the 62 high-risk locations being monitored by JBPM.
“Among the main factors contributing to the increase in open burning are hot weather conditions in certain areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nor Hisham said his department was focusing on preparations to face weather changes expected to affect Malaysia following the Super El Nino phenomenon.
He said preparations were being made early, taking into account weather forecasts, including the impact of the phenomenon, which is expected to occur in the Pacific in November, with its effects expected to be felt in Malaysia around the third or fourth week of January next year.
— BERNAMA
