Peatland fire in Saribas successfully extinguished by Bomba after seven-day operation

KUCHING (Aug 29): A peatland fire affecting about 33 hectares at Jalan Bungin Serembang, Saribas, has been successfully extinguished following a seven-day firefighting operation.

State Deputy Minister for Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Development and Saribas assemblyman Datuk Dr Mohd Razi Sitam said the firefighting operation had been suspended after the fire was successfully contained.

However, he said the area would continue to be monitored by the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) to ensure there were no signs of the fire rekindling.

“Follow-up monitoring is important to ensure the situation remains under control,” he said in a report by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) after inspecting the site to obtain the latest updates on the operation.

He added that inspections would be conducted every four hours as a precautionary measure, while the cause of the fire remained under investigation by the authorities.

The seven-day operation involved the Betong Fire and Rescue Division, Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) personnel from Spaoh and Betong, as well as the Malaysian Volunteers Corps Department (RELA).

The coordinated efforts of the agencies and personnel involved enabled the fire to be fully brought under control, reducing the risk of it recurring in the area.

Also present at the site was TBK1/TBK2 Operations Chief Abang Muhd Fhazil Abang Abdul Manaf.