LUNDU: A Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) helicopter dropped 18,200 litres of water over a forest fire at the Samunsam Forest Reserve here today (Aug 22), bringing the blaze under control.
The aerial operation was carried out on the third day of firefighting efforts at the site, where about two hectares of forest were estimated to have been affected.
Bomba said its Mi-171 helicopter carried out 13 water drops after arriving over the affected area at 12.55 pm.
“A total of 18,200 litres of water was dropped during the operation, with water sourced from the Belinsah river mouth.
“The spread of the fire has been brought under control and the water-bombing operation has since ended,” a Bomba spokesperson said.
The helicopter, operated by a 16-member crew from the department’s Sarawak Region Air Base, was airborne for two hours and 42 minutes.
Ground crews from the Lundu fire station had earlier reached the area at about 9.30am before proceeding to the fire site and carrying out firefighting using fire beaters.
Bomba said efforts on the ground were hampered by the hilly terrain, the absence of a water source at the affected site and its location about one kilometre from the main road.
Drone monitoring by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) had estimated the affected area at about two hectares.
As of earlier today, about 0.1 hectares had been extinguished, leaving an estimated 1.9 hectares still affected before the aerial water-bombing operation was carried out.
