Haze is back, but blame it on fires in Singapore

Amresh Gunasingham, Straits Times 17 Feb 09;

Singapore has recorded the highest number of vegetation fires in decades due to the dry spell.

SMOKE haze is back and will probably stay till the end of the week.

This time, it is not caused by fires elsewhere. Instead, record numbers of bush fires have flared up here, fuelled by the soaring temperatures and dry weather, and with weak winds unable to blow the smoke particles away.

The weatherman said that the pollutants standards index (PSI), which hit its highest level in a year - 57 - on Sunday, will hover in the moderate range over the next few days.

Another record wilted that day, when temperatures reached a scorching 35 deg C, the highest ever recorded for the month of February.

According to the Meteorological Services Division of the National Environment Agency (NEA), the weather on most days this month has been dry and still, with the prevailing north-east monsoon in its dry phase.

Experts said that 'light wind conditions' since Friday have allowed the build-up of particles in the air.

The lack of rainfall and high temperatures have fuelled the 288 bush fires recorded by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) since the year began. This is more than two-thirds the 426 cases recorded for the whole of last year.

SCDF's public affairs director, Lieutenant-Colonel N. Subhas, said the fires are probably started by cigarette butts thrown carelessly onto tinder-dry vegetation.

'The dumping of rubbish on vacant land acts as additional fuel to sustain the fires,' he said.

NEA has advised the public to be 'more vigilant' to minimise the incidence of such bush fires.

Though satellite pictures detected 47 hot spots in Sumatra yesterday, NEA said it is unlikely that the haze originated there as 'only localised thin plumes could be observed near the fires'.

The hot and hazy conditions are chasing people indoors. A check with 13 preschools found that five cut down outdoors play time, or moved it indoors completely yesterday.

The principal of Happy Talent Childcare Centre, Ms Jenny Seow, 39, told The Straits Times: 'Some children found it difficult to breathe after exerting themselves. We are especially monitoring children with a history of asthma.'

NEA said that the moderate air quality over the next few days is no cause for concern for the general population.

But those with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease could find their symptoms worsening, said Associate Professor Daniel Goh, head of the University Children's Medical Institute at the National University Hospital.

'These patients should look out for early signs and symptoms of their condition, such as cough and breathlessness; and make sure they take their regular medications properly and diligently,' he said.

There is respite on the horizon. NEA said the hazy conditions will improve once wind speeds pick up - as expected - later this week.

Additional reporting by Judith Tan and Jalelah Abu Baker

Hot, dry month

PSI

# Friday (Feb 13): 50
# Sat (Feb 14): 53
# Sun (Feb 15): 57
# Yesterday: 54
(Moderate PSI: 51 - 100)

RAINFALL

# For Feb till yesterday: 19mm
# Long term average for Feb: 162mm
# Highest rainfall this month: Northern areas around Sembawang and Lower Peirce Reservoir (60 to 75 mm)
# Lowest rainfall this month: Eastern and western parts around Changi and Tuas (less than 10 mm)

TEMPERATURE

# Highest till yesterday: 35 deg C on Feb 15
# Previous high: 34.7 deg C on Feb 19, 2005.

Record high of vegetation fires in Singapore
Today Online 17 Feb 09;

IT HAS been hazy, but be prepared for the haziness to linger, at least for the next two to three days.

That is what has been predicted as light wind conditions mean particles in the air are not dispersed. Smoke from vegetation fires have also contributed to thehaziness.

The dry weather has led to more frequent outbreaks of such fires, with the highest number of vegetation fires in decades, reported Channel NewsAsia. In the first two weeks of this month, 106 fires were recorded. This follows the record 182 last month, well above the average of 26 cases for the month over the past decade.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force described this as unprecedented and said it is installing dry hydrant systems to provide water supply in areas with dry vegetation.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said forest fires have been spotted in Sumatra, especially in Riau. But it said that the current haze is not due to smoke from these.

NEA also said Singapore’s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) crept up to the moderate range (between 51 to 100) over the weekend, rising from “good” the week before. The PSI at 4 pm yesterday was 54, putting overall air quality in the low “moderate” range.

Dry spell causes bush fires to surge to record numbers
Cheryl Frois, Channel NewsAsia 17 Feb 09;

SINGAPORE: Singapore has recorded the highest number of vegetation fires in decades due to the dry spell.

In the first two weeks of this month, 106 fires have been recorded. This follows a record 182 in January, well above the average of 26 cases for the month over the past decade.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has described this as unprecedented and said it is installing dry hydrant systems to provide water supply in areas with dry vegetation like Tampines and Fort Road.

Smoke from these vegetation fires has contributed to the particle build-up in the air, resulting in Singapore experiencing slightly hazy conditions since last Friday.

The weak winds have also contributed to the bleary conditions, as they are unable to blow the smoke particles away.

The National Environment Agency said Singapore's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) crept up to the "moderate" range of between 53 and 57 over the weekend, rising from the "good" range the week before.

The haze is leaving many Singaporeans hot under the collar.

"Even at night, it's really hot, even turning on the air-con doesn't help," said a member of the public.

"Exercise is out of the question, movements out in the open are restricted," said another.

"I couldn't breathe. I've been coughing, because I'm quite allergic to the haze," said a third.

"Even the poor doggies at home" are feeling the heat, said a fourth.

The haziness and hot weather is expected to persist over the next three days, as wind conditions continue to be light.

- CNA/ir