Singapore may experience burning smell, slight haze due to 3 Johor hotspots: NEA

Channel NewsAsia 6 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE: Singapore may experience a burning smell and slight haze over the next few days due to three hotspots in southern Johor, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Wednesday (Mar 6).

The agency was responding to Channel NewsAsia's queries after residents in various parts of Singapore noticed a strong burning smell on Tuesday evening.

The smell was reported from areas such as Bukit Panjang, Punggol, Bishan, Serangoon, Yishun and Aljunied, with one resident describing it as "really bad".

"NEA has detected smoke plumes from three hotspots in southern Johor to the east and northeast of Singapore," the authority confirmed.

"With the prevailing north or northeasterly winds, these fires are the likely cause of the burning smell experienced by the public yesterday evening."

These winds, NEA said, are expected to continue for the next few days. As such, Singapore may experience a burning smell and slight haze if the fires in Johor persist.

It added that since 6pm on Tuesday evening, the Pollution Standards Index (PSI) across Singapore was in the good to low-moderate range.

"Given the current air quality, normal activities can continue," NEA said.

"We are closely monitoring the air quality and will provide updates on any significant change to the air quality situation."

According to NEA, periods of dry weather are common in the surrounding region at this time of the year. This can lead to outbreaks of land and vegetation fires.

READ: Feeling hot? Here's why February was one of the hottest in 90 years
There have been several reports of a strong burning smell in parts of Singapore due to hotspots in Johor since early February.

On Feb 8, residents in the eastern part of Singapore complained about a smoky smell in the air, which NEA attributed to a fire at a landfill at Bandar Tenggara in Johor.

In a separate incident in mid-February, NEA said a burning smell detected in the northeast of Singapore was likely related to a fire at Tanjong Langsat landfill in Pasir Gudang.

Two other incidents reported in the last two weeks were also due to hotspots in Johor, including a fire at an oil palm plantation that brought a burning smell to parts of Singapore last Tuesday.

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Source: CNA/aa(hm)


Fires in Johor still the likely cause of lingering burning smell in Singapore; third hot spot found
Tee Zhuo Straits Times 6 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE - Fires in Johor continue to be the likely culprit behind the lingering burning smell here, with a third hot spot detected by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

Singaporeans may also have to bear with the smell and a slight haze if the fires persist, the agency said on Wednesday evening (March 6) in response to queries.

In its statement, the NEA said it had received multiple reports of a burning smell, mainly in the eastern and central regions of Singapore, on Tuesday evening.

It detected smoke plumes from three hot spots in southern Johor to the east and north-east of Singapore.

"With the prevailing north or north-easterly winds, these fires are the likely cause of the burning smell experienced by the public on Tuesday evening," it added.

Last Wednesday, The Straits Times reported that a second hot spot had been detected in Johor, the likely cause behind the burning smell Singaporeans had reported earlier that week.

An earlier fire was put out by local firemen with the help of rain. That fire was the likely cause of the burning smell reported in ST on Feb 25.

Since early last month, the burning smell has come and gone.

There were reports of the smell on Feb 8 and 17, and in both cases, the smell was likely caused by Johor fires.

The NEA said on Wednesday that prevailing winds are expected to continue blowing from the north or north-east in the next few days.

"We may experience a burning smell and slight haze if the fires in Johor persist," it added.

The agency also noted that periods of dry weather are common in the surrounding region at this time of the year, and this can lead to outbreaks of land and vegetation fires.

The Pollution Standards Index across Singapore has ranged from 47 to 67 since 6pm on Tuesday. This is within the "good" range and at the lower end of the "moderate" range.

The one-hour PM2.5 readings ranged from six to 48 micrograms per cubic metre, in the "normal" range. PM2.5 is the dominant pollutant during haze episodes.

Ambient volatile organic compounds levels were also within safety limits.

Normal activities can continue with the current air quality, the NEA said, adding that it is monitoring the air quality and will provide updates on significant changes.