Miri, Lawas, Limbang identified as fire prone areas during El Nino

The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department has identified Miri, Lawas and Limbang Divisions as fire prone and high risk areas during the hot and dry weather due to the El Nino phenomenon.

Its director Nor Hisham Mohammad said the El Nino sweeping the country from this month until March would affect the three divisions and any forest or bush fires could cause significant harm.

"Early monitoring of the three divisions is important and firefighters will carry out helicopter patrols so that early action can be taken," he told reporters after attending the 2016 Fire and Rescue Department Annual Parade, here today.

Nor Hisham said currently 10 large 'water tankers' had been placed in strategic locations classified as fire prone areas and 15 utility trucks, 20 sets of forest fire pumps as well as 10 portable pumps had been readied.

Meanwhile, in KUALA TERENGGANU the state Meteorological Office asked people not to panic over the El Nino phenomenon.

Its director Jenawa Husin said Terengganu would have an increase in temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius to two degrees Celsius but it was under control.

"This is a normal phenomenon which is repeated every three to seven years, and in Terengganu the temperatures recorded so far is 32 to 33 degrees Celsius and is not as bad as before," he told reporters here today.

People are advised not to carry out open burning and to reduce outdoor activities during the hot weather to avoid health problems caused by strong sunlight, especially in the afternoon.

The Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department has also stationed firemen at high risk areas in the state to be on the look out for fires during this hot spell.

The department's director Azlimin Mat Noor said 700 officers and men are on the alert to face any eventuality, including open fire incidents.

The department's director Azlimin Mat Noor said 700 officers and men are on the alert to face any eventuality, including open fire incidents.

He said they had identified several areas at risk of fires namely, Tok Kah (Dungun), Lembah Bidong (Setiu), Kemaman and Besut.

Several precautions have been taken like placing volunteer fire fighters in areas at risk and providing additional assets such as water tankers with a capacity of 20,000 litres of water.