Blurry view A hot and hazy day greeting visitors at the KL Tower’s Sky Deck. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department is monitoring forests at risk of fires in the hot weather.
Its operations commander Mohd Mazimi Mohamad said this after firemen put out a fire at the 5ha forest in Merang, Setiu, about 60km from here, early yesterday.
“Although we have successfully doused the fire, we will continue to monitor the forest area due to the extremely hot weather now.
“We will also do the same with other forests, where fire always breaks out during hot spells,” he told Bernama.
Mohd Mazimi said the operation to extinguish the Merang forest fire began at 7pm on Sunday and ended at 2.30am yesterday. It involved a total of 35 personnel from Setiu, Kuala Nerus, Jalan Kota, Wakaf Tapai and Besut fire stations, he added.
He said the cause of the fire had yet to be determined.
“However, the forest areas around Merang are usually hit by forest fires almost every year during the hot weather as the weeds easily catch fire,” he added.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said seven areas in Peninsular Malaysia and two in Sabah are expected to experience a Level 1 heatwave warning for at least three consecutive days with a maximum temperature of between 35°C and 37°C.
The affected areas in the peninsula are Jeli, Kuala Krai, Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah in Kelantan; Rompin in Pahang; Jempol in Negri Sembilan; Kuala Terengganu; and Beaufort and Nabawan in Sabah.
