February's a dry, hot season in Singapore

71 bush fires in first 2 weeks as rainfall set to be lowest ever for Feb
Victoria Vaughan & Sujin Thomas, Straits Times 19 Feb 10;

AN UNUSUALLY high number of bush fires has been raging for the second year in a row, as Singapore heads towards what could be the driest February on record.

With rainfall less than half what it was this time last year, 71 bush fires have been recorded in the first two weeks of the month, and they may continue until it rains, said climate experts.

Last year, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) fought 159 bush fires in February and 182 in January, the highest figure for that month in the past decade.

This year, 36 bush fires were recorded in January. The huge jump seen in the first two weeks of this month could continue if the weather stays dry.

Rainfall up to Tuesday was just 4.6mm, compared with 11.5mm in the same period last year. Average monthly rainfall for February is usually about 100mm.

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), it will continue to be dry for at least the next two weeks, with only shortlived showers expected on three or four afternoons.

The SCDF has identified three hot spots, all in the eastern part of the island, which has seen the highest number of fires reported recently. The three are: Fort Road, with three fires; Bedok Road, with four; and along the Tampines Expressway (TPE) towards Changi after the Jalan Kayu exit, which had four cases.

Other areas which had fires included Punggol, Hougang and Pasir Ris.

The fires occurred in vacant grasslands or open fields and were generally not near homes or commercial areas. At the TPE, they raged in the brush just next to the expressway.

The fires are started in different ways, exacerbated by the dry season, such as cigarette butts being thrown carelessly, or from candles that are lit at makeshift altars.

The SCDF, which chairs the Wildfire Task Force Committee, said it is working on preventive measures with related agencies such as the Housing Board and the Singapore Land Authority.

These include increased patrols, trimming vegetation and creating fire-break buffers to prevent the spread of fire.

There were no reports of injuries from the fires last year.

A Straits Times check of the affected stretches of the TPE and Punggol found areas of charred grass and burnt trees ranging in size from smaller than a basketball court to as big as a football field.

Residents in the vicinity largely seemed to be unaware of what was happening.

An SCDF spokesman said its officers patrol the hot spots up to three times a week. Fire hydrants are also inspected during the checks.

National University of Singapore's climate expert Matthias Roth, 49, said that El Nino, a recurring weather phenomenon, could be to blame for the current dry weather.

'A moderate El Nino is in place which is predicted to last into spring. The impact includes drier-than-average conditions which could help to explain why Singapore is experiencing a dry spell,' he said.

He noted that both January and February had below average rainfall.

'This has contributed to dry conditions of the soil and vegetation, therefore increasing the susceptibility to bush fires,' said the climatologist.

The lowest recorded rainfall for February was 8.4mm in the years 1968 and 2005.

An NEA spokesman said it was too soon to tell if this could become the driest February on record, but if rainfall continues at the same rate, then it could well be.

Singapore is currently experiencing the north-east monsoon season, which brings heavy rainfall through December and January. The dry phase of the monsoon occurs between February and early March.

HOTSPOTS

# Fort Road: Three fires

# Bedok Road: Four fires

# Along the Tampines Expressway towards Changi after the Jalan Kayu exit: Four fires