Firemen to put out fire at Alor Setar landfill by Monday

A fire at the Alor Setar City Council (MBAS) solid waste disposal site in Pokok Sena near here since Wednesday is expected to be completely put out in by Monday.

MBAS Mayor Datuk Mat Noh Ahmad said the fire which started from a small flame spread quickly in the hot weather, aided by strong winds.

"The Fire and Rescue Department managed to control the blaze but there are several small fires in the Jabi landfill which has been a rubbish disposal site in the last 40 years," he told reporters after a visit to the site on Saturday.

Mat Noh said firemen had stopped the fire in many spots by flooding the affected areas with water so that smothering flames beneath the piles of waste are extinguished.

"By using this method, we expect the fire to be completely put under control in the next 48 hours and are recommending the usage of another upgraded disposal site for new loads of waste for the time being," he said.

The operation to douse the fire at the Jabi rubbish disposal site was carried out by more 80 firemen from Alor Setar with two fire engines.