GEORGE TOWN: Firefighters remained at Penang Botanical Gardens to monitor about 10 per cent of an affected area showing residual burning.
“Firefighters remain on site to monitor the affected area,” Penang Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director John Sagun Francis said.
The blaze has been brought under control and fully extinguished, with monitoring continuing into the morning.
Mop-up operations in sectors A and B have been completed, while sector C remains under observation.
About 10 per cent of the affected area in sector C is still showing signs of residual burning.
No casualties were reported.
Penang is currently experiencing hot, dry and windy conditions typical of this time of year.
The blaze, which initially involved an estimated 5ha of forest, expanded to 8ha.
Penang Hill Corporation said the fire was reported at yesterday at Km1.9 of the jeep track.
The affected area consisted of ferns and grass, covering about 5ha.
“The fire has since been successfully brought under control, and monitoring continues to prevent re-ignition,” it said in a statement.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
