T.N.Alagesh New Straits Times 6 Aug 19;
KUANTAN: Some 35ha of forest and peat land at Bukit Palas near Cherating here has been burning since Monday.
Thick smoke enveloped the area as firemen worked around the clock to prevent the blaze from spreading to other nearby areas.
Pahang Fire and Rescue Department chief Nor Hisham Mohammed said fire had destroyed some 25ha while another 10ha was still burning.
"The department is using drones to monitor the situation on the ground, including the wind direction and new fire sites. We are trying to identify new access routes to get close to the fire spot.
"Since fire trucks cannot get close to the fire spot, we have to rely on groundwater sources, Two portable water pumps are being used to fight the forest fires," he said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, Nor Hisham said a 4ha plantation near Pulau Rumpun, Pekan, was also affected by forest fires since Sunday.
He said firemen along with 10 plantation workers have been using portable water pumps to keep the fire under control.
Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Kemaman at unhealthy level
T.N.Alagesh, Hana Naz Harun New Straits Times 6 Aug 19;
KUALA LUMPUR: Air quality levels nationwide generally remained at moderate levels, despite the continued dry weather prevailing over the southern Asean region.
Only Indera Mahkota in Kuantan, Pahang, and Kemaman in Terengganu recorded unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings, with a high of 110 at 1pm and 106 (9am) respectively.
As at 6pm today, the Department of Environment portal showed a slight improvement in readings, with Kemaman’s API recorded at 97. Indera Mahkota’s API remained at an unhealthy level, despite dropping to 106.
API readings of zero to 50 are categorised as good; between 51 and 100 (moderate); between 101 and 200 (unhealthy); between 201 and 300 (very unhealthy); and more than 301 (dangerous).
The department of environment receives API through 68 remotely controlled air quality monitoring stations around the country.
Meanwhile, Monday’s data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) revealed an increase in the number of hotspots, especially in Sumatera, where 42 hotspots were detected.
It also detected three hotspots in West and Central Kalimantan and four in Peninsular Malaysia. All four hotspots detected in Peninsular Malaysia were located in Pahang.
The ASMC said some hotspots may go undetected due to cloudy conditions or partial satellite pass.
“With dry conditions forecast to persist, there may be further escalation of hotspot activities over the next few days.”
A “Level 2” alert was activated in the southern Asean region since Aug 1, following the escalation in hotspot activities and a deterioration in haze situations within the region.
The ASMC issues a Level 2 alert when there are more than 150 hotspots within two consecutive days with dense smoke plumes, persistent dry weather, and prevailing winds blowing towards Asean countries.
“ASMC assessed that there could be a further escalation of hotspot activities and an increase in the risk of transboundary haze occurrence,” it said on its website.
Haze likely to continue
CLARISSA CHUNG The Star 7 Aug 19;
PETALING JAYA: The haze in the country from the fires in Indonesia is expected to persist due to the southwest monsoon winds, according to the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
“Our latest monitoring showed that there is still a slight haze in the peninsula and west Sarawak following an increase in hotspots in Riau, southern Sumatra and Kalimantan, ” MetMalaysia director-general Jailan Simon said.
Four hotspots, which are areas with possible active fires, were also detected in the peninsula yesterday. All the sites were located in Pahang.
Jailan said three of the locations recorded a visibility distance of below 5km.
“Any uncontrolled fire in Sumatra and West Kalimantan can cause recurring transboundary haze in our country. Open burning in our country can aggravate the haze situation as well, ” he said.
He added that while the haze in the west coast of the peninsula and west Sarawak a few days ago was due to the fires in Indonesia, local open burning is the cause of the haze in Pahang and southern Terengganu.
According to updates by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), the southern Asean region is expected to see an escalation of hotspot activities.
“In the southern Asean region, dry conditions are forecast to persist and an escalation of hotspot activities can be expected.
“The prevailing winds over the southern Asean region are expected to blow from the southeast or south, ” it said in an update on its website yesterday.
Checks on the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index (API) website showed all stations in Malaysia were classified as “moderate”, except for two stations.
The Indera Mahkota, Kuantan station recorded an “unhealthy” API level of up to 110 yesterday while Bintulu, Sarawak recorded an API level of up to 106.
API levels of 51 to 100 are classified as “moderate”, API levels above 100 are considered “unhealthy” and above 200 is “very unhealthy”.
Global Environment Centre (GEC) director Faizal Parish said the fires in Sumatra are occurring in degraded peatlands impacted by the current dry season.
“Sources of small-scale fires to clear land for agriculture and plantation are increasing fire risk in adjacent peatland areas, ” he added.
The GEC works with the Malaysian government on preventing fires in peatland areas, and also provides advice to the Indonesian government on fire prevention and control.
