Johor Fire Department monitors peatland fire smoke near Singapore, with aerial water bombing and evacuations in place as containment reaches 55%.
KOTA TINGGI: Smoke from a peatland fire in Johor is under control and has not reached Singapore’s airspace, according to the state’s fire department.
The Johor Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is closely monitoring the situation at Jalan Sungai Kapal, Taman Bayu Damai. Its deputy director, Assistant Fire Commissioner Muhammad Al Mustakim Abdul Hady, said smoke from three fire sites in Pengerang is contained.
“From yesterday’s State Disaster Management Committee meeting, we were told that smoke hasn’t reached Singapore’s airspace…we’ll keep monitoring its movement,” he said.
Aerial operations using MI-17 helicopters for water bombing are helping extinguish the fire and limit smoke spread. Two of the three identified fire sites in Pengerang have already been put out.
Integrated firefighting operations continue using fire breaks and flooding techniques. As of noon, the department had doused 54.8% of the affected areas.
Aerial assets are expected to further aid containment, particularly in central zones. The fire has led to the evacuation of 153 residents from 50 families in Taman Bayu Damai.
They have been moved to two temporary evacuation centres since the fire broke out. The monitoring follows Singaporean media reports that its National Environment Agency is tracking haze after smoke was detected in several areas.
